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LIBRARY 


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A  HISTORY 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH 
BY    NATHAN    BANGS,   D.  D. 


VOLUME  II. 

FROM    THE    YEAR    1793    TO    THE    YEAR    1816. 


THran  EDITION,  REVISED  AND  CORRECTED. 


"How  goodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob  ;  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel,"  Num 
bers  xxiv,  5. 

"  Behold,  I  send  an  Angel  before  thee— beware  of  him,  and  obey  his  voice  ; 
provoke  him  not. — If  thou  shalt  indeed  obey  his  voice,  and  do  all  that  I  speak, 
then  I  will  be  an  enemy  to  thine  enemies,  and  an  adversary  to  thine  adversa- 
ries," Exod.  xxiii,  20-22. 


NEW-YORK  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  G.  LANE  &  C.  B.  TIPPETT, 

OR    THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH 

200   MTLBERRY-STREET. 

y.  Collord,  Printer. 
1845. 


"Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1839, 
by  T.  Mason  and  G.  Lane,  in  the  Clerk's  OfRce  of  the  Dis 
trict  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New-York." 


BOOK    IV. 


PROM   1792    TO    THE  FIRST  DELEGATED  GENERAL 
CONFERENCE  IN   1812. 


CHAPTER  I. 


From  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  of  1792  to  the  close  of  the 
Annual  Conferences  of  1796. 


We  have  hitherto  traced  the  progress  of  Methodism 
in  this  country,  from  its  small  beginning  in  1766  to 
the  close  of  the  first  General  Conference  in  1792. 
Though  it  had  difficulties,  both  internal  and  external, 
to  contend  with,  it  won  its  way  through  every  oppo- 
sition, maintaining  the  purity  of  its  character,  and 
exerting  its  hallowing  influence  on  society,  in  the  mean- 
lime  molding  itself  into  a  more  compact  form  and 
firmer  consistency,  untiljWe  have  seen,  it  was  organized 
in  one  supreme  judicatory  to  which  its  destinies,  under 
God,  were  committed.  I  shall  now  proceed  to  nar- 
rate, as  accurately  as  possible,  its  subsequent  progress, 
both  in  its  general  councils  and  in  its  various  ramifi- 
cations over  this  extended  continent. 

1793.  Though  the  labors  of  the  conference,  de- 
tailed in  the  former  chapter,  were  great,  and  the  sub- 
jects of  deliberation  elicited  very  considerable  contro- 
versy, yet  the  preachers  generally  departed  to  tlieir 
respective    spheres   of  labor    with    promptness    and 

2 


322460 


4  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1793 

cheerfulness ;  and  ihe  people,  with  the  exception  of 
those  who  were  poisoned  with  the  O'Kellyan  5>chism, 
manifested  great  satisfaction  at  what  liad  been  done. 
It  was,  indeed,  manifest  to  all  impartial  men  that  the 
members  of  this  conference  "  sought  not  their  own" 
glory,  temporal  aggrandizement,  ease,  or  pleasure,  but 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  mankind. 

This  year  there  were  no  less  than  nineteen  confer- 
ences held  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  for  the 
convenience  of  the  preachers  and  people,  and  it  was 
upward  of  eleven  months  from  the  time  of  the  first 
to  the  last, — the  times  and  places  of  which,  not 
affording  much  matter  of  general  interest,  I  think  not 
necessary  now  or  hereafter  to  specify.  In  these 
several  conferences  the  following  twelve  circuits  were 
added  : — Swanino,  in  Virginia  ;  Haw  River,  in  North 
Carolina ;  Hinkstone,  in  the  West ;  Washington,  Ma- 
ryland ;  Freehold,  New- Jersey ;  Herkimer  and  Seneca 
Lake,  New- York  ;  Tolland  and  New- London,  Con- 
necticut;  Province  of  Maine,  Maine;  Prince  George, 
in  Maryland;  Savannah,  in  Georgia. 

An  effort  was  made  this  year  for  the  erection  of 
district  schools,  in  imitation  of  the  Kingswood  School, 
established  by  Mr.  Wesley,  in  England;  and  an  ad- 
dress was  drawn  up  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Church,  with  a  view  to  call  their  atten- 
tion to  the  importance  of  this  subject.  Several  such 
were  accordingly  commenced  soon  after  ;  but  whether 
for  want  of  skill  in  their  management,  or  patronage 
from  the  people,  or  more  probably  from  both  of  these 
causes,  they  lingered  for  a  short  time,  and  then  ceased 
to  exist.  These  failures  in  an  attempt  to  impart  the 
benefits  of  a  Christian  education  made  an  impression 


1793.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  5 

upon  the  mind  of  the  good  bishop  and  others  that  the 
Methodists  were  not  called  to  attend  to  these  things ; 
and  hence  for  several  years  they  were  suffered  to  sleep. 
This  subject  has,  however,  more  latterly  awakened  a 
very  general  interest  in  the  Church,  and  the  cause  of 
education  has  been  prosecuted  with  vigor  and  success, 
as  will  be  noticed  in  the  proper  place. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  conference.  Bishop 
Asbury  commenced  his  tour  of  the  continent  by  travel- 
ing through  the  southern  states,  and  thence  west 
over  the  Alleghany  Mountains  into  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky,  contending  with  almost  all  sorts  of  difficul- 
ties, and  yet  everywhere  scattering  the  seeds  of  eter- 
nal life.  From  the  west  he  returned  and  visited  the 
northern  and  eastern  states,  and  on  arriving  at  the 
city  of  New- York,  he  says,  after  mentioning  that  he 
had  been  much  afflicted  in  body,  particularly  with  an 
inflammatory  rheumatism  in  his  feet, — 

"  I  have  found,  by  secret  search,  that  I  have  not  preach- 
ed sancdfication  as  I  should  have  done.  If  I  am  restored, 
this  shall  be  my  theme  more  pointedly  than  ever,  God 
being  my  helper.  I  have  been  sick  upward  of  four  months, 
during  which  time  I  have  attended  to  my  business,  and 
rode,  I  suppose,  not  less  than  three  thousand  miles." 

In  this  journey  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  behold,  in 
many  places,  a  revival  of  the  work  of  God.  which, 
amid  the  gloom  occasioned  by  his  debility,  the  rough- 
ness of  the  roads,  and  the  coarseness  of  his  fare,  par- 
ticularly in  the  new  countries,  made  him  "  rejoice  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God."  While  a  foundation  was 
laying  for  an  extensive  work  of  God  in  the  western 
slates,   New-England  began  more  fully  to  "  stretch 

2 


6  A    HISTORV    OF    THE  [1793. 

out  her  hands  to  God."  This  year  there  were  two 
districts  in  New-Enghmd,  one  of  which  was  under 
the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Cooper,  and  the  other 
the  Rev.  George  Roberts,  both  of  whom  were  able 
ministers  of  the  New  Testament  ;  and  the  Rev.  Jesse 
Lee,  who  had  opened  a  way  for  the  spread  of 
Methodism  in  this  country,  was  stationed  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Maine,  and  Lynn.  Tlirough  their  labors,  and 
those  preachers  who  were  associated  together  under 
their  direction,  several  new  circuits  were  formed  in 
Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  and  Rhode  Island,  and 
many  societies  were  established. 

But  this  work  did  not  go  on  without  opposition. 
Though  the  civil  regulations  of  the  country  did  not 
allow  the  standing  order  to  interpose  their  authority  to 
prevent  the  Methodists  from  preaching,  yet  they  were 
not  allowed  the  full  exercise  of  their  ministry,  particu- 
larly as  respects  uniting  people  in  matrimony.  Hence 
Mr.  Roberts  was  prosecuted  and  fined  for  performing 
the  marriage  ceremony.  As,  however,  this  sort  of 
persecution  was  becoming  unpopular  among  the  peo- 
ple, the  more  they  were  oppressed  in  this  way,  "  the 
more  they  prospered,"  until  finally  all  those  legal  bar- 
riers were  removed  out  of  the  way,  and  the  Metho- 
dists, as  well  as  others,  are  protected  in  all  their 
rights  and  privileges. 

Though  it  will  be  anticipating  the  chronological 
order  of  the  history  a  little,  yet  I  think  it  will  give 
the  reader  a  more  intelligible  idea  of  the  progress  of 
the  work  in  this  country,  to  connect  a  few  particulars 
in  this  place.  This  year  the  New-London  circuit 
was  formed.  Though  as  early  as  1789  preaching 
commenced  in  this  city,  yet  no  regular  class  was 
2 


1793.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  7 

formed  until  the  year  1793,  and  that  consisted  of 
fifty  members.  And  it  was  not  until  1798  that  they 
succeeded  in  building  a  house  of  worship  in  New- 
London,  which  was  dedicated  to  God  on  the  2  2d  of 
July  of  that  year. 

Warren  circuit,  in  Rhode  Island,  which  included 
Warren,  Newport,  Providence,  Cranston,  and  several 
places  in  Massachusetts,  appears  on  the  minutes  of 
this  year ;  and  the  first  Methodist  church  which  was 
built  in  Rhode  Island  was  in  the  town  of  Warren  ; 
and  the  first  sermon  was  preached  in  it  Sept.  24,  1794. 

As  perfect  religious  freedom  was  secured  to  the 
people  by  the  original  charter  granted  to  the  state  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  of  course  no  form  of  Christianity  was 
established  by  law,  the  Methodists  met  with  less  op- 
position there  than  they  did  in  some  other  portions  of 
New-England. 

In  Provincetown,  on  Cape  Cod,  which  was  first 
included  in  the  minutes  of  1795,  there  were  some  in- 
cidents attending  the  introduction  of  Methodism  which, 
as  they  show  the  fruits  of  the  carnal  mind  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  good  providence  of  God  on  the  other, 
may  be  worthy  of  record.  It  seems  that  a  few  in 
this  place  were  brought  under  serious  impressions, 
and  began  to  hold  meetings  among  themselves  before 
they  were  visited  by  any  preacher,  and  they  had 
therefore  no  one  competent  to  instruct  and  guide 
them.  In  this  way  they  endeavored  to  strengthen 
each  other's  hands  for  some  time,  being  much  de- 
spised and  persecuted  by  those  who  "  knew  not  what 
spirit  they  were  of,"  until  one  of  our  preachers,  who 
was  on  his  passage  from  New-York  to  St.  John's,  in 
New-Brunswick,   meeting  with  contrary   winds,   the 

2 


•8  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1793. 

vessel  in  which  he  sailed  was  compelled  to  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  Provincctown,  On  going  ashore, 
the  preacher  soon  found  these  young  converts,  and  at 
their  invitation  gave  them  a  sermon.  After  staying 
with  them  a  few  days,  and  preaching  several  times, 
he  left  them  with  directions  where  they  might  apply 
for  Methodist  preachers.  They  accordingly  sent  to 
Boston  for  help,  and  were  soon  supplied. 

In  consequence  of  these  movements,  when  the 
Methodist  preachers  first  visited  the  place,  they  were 
cordially  received,  treated  with  great  kindness,  and 
many  attended  their  meetings.  A  society  was  soon 
formed,  and  several  sinners  awakened  and  converted 
to  God,  and  added  to  the  society.  Their  number 
daily  increasing,  they  commenced  building  a  house  of 
worship.  This  provoked  opposition,  and  the  "  sons 
of  Belial"  assembled  in  the  night,  took  the  greater 
part  of  the  timber,  which  had  been  brought  from 
a  distance,  at  a  considerable  expense^  threw  it 
from  the  brow  of  a  hill  into  the  valley,  cut  it  to 
pieces  and  built  a  pen  with  it, — then  taking  a  sailor's 
old  hat,  coat,  and  trowsers,  stuffed  them  so  as  to 
make  them  resemble  a  man,  fastened  the  image  on  the 
top  of  the  pen,  and  tarred  and  feathered  it.  This 
shameful  conduct,  so  far  from  intimidating  the  bre- 
thren, or  discouraging  them  in  their  efforts  to  erect  a 
house  for  the  worship  of  God,  only  served  to  stimu- 
late them  to  renewed  diligence  ;  and  by  the  month 
of  January  they  had  their  house  ready  for  use,  and 
accordingly  took  possession  of  it  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

James  O'Kelly,  Rice  Haggard,  John  Robertson, 
and  John  Allen,  were  returned  in  the  minutes  this 
2 


1793.]  METHODIS'T    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  9 

year  as  withdrawn.      Eighteen  were  located,  and  one, 
James  Bell,  was  expelled. 

Benjamin  Carter  and   John   Sproul  had  died,  both 
in  peace. 

In  making  the  above  record,  we  cannot  but  notice 
the  number  of  locations  which  took  place  in  those 
early  days  of  the  Church,  and  which,  indeed,  con- 
tinued to  be  numerous  for  many  years  thereafter. 
That  this  practice  has  had  an  unfavorable  effect  upon 
the  interests  of  the  Church,  by  depriving  it  of  some 
of  its  tried  and  experienced  ministers,  must  be  evi- 
dent to  all ;  for  though  many  of  those  who  located 
retained  their  piety,  and  also  their  usefulness  to  some 
extent,  yet  it  is  manifest  that  their  ministerial  labors 
were  very  much  contracted,  and  their  usefulness  pro- 
portionably  circumscribed.  These  locations,  how- 
ever, were  owing,  in  some  measure  at  least,  to  the 
scanty  support  which  was  made  for  men  of  families, 
and  the  great  difficulty  of  contending,  under  those  cir- 
cumstances, with  the  hardships  of  an  itinerant  life, 
particularly  in  the  new  countries.  Hence  the  tempta- 
tions which  were  held  out  to  locate  that  they  might 
provide  a  livelihood  for  their  growing  famihes.  If  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  erred  in  any  one 
thing  more  than  another,  it  has  been  in  neglecting  to 
make  that  provision  for  its  ministers  which  they 
needed,  and  which  the  gospel  authorizes  them  to  re- 
ceive. A  remedy  for  this  evil  is  to  be  found  in  that 
spirit  of  liberality  which  Christianity  inculcates,  and 
which  is  essential  to  the  existence  and  usefulness  of 
a  gospel  ministry. 

The  effect  of  the  labors  of  this  year  may  be  seen 
in  the  following  statement : — 

1*  2 


10  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1794. 


This  year. 
Last  year. 

Numbers  in  the  Church 

Whites.              Colored.             Total. 
51,416         16,227         67,643 
52,109         13,871         65,980 

Preachers. 
269 
266 

Decrease, 

693 

In.  2,356 

1,663 

3 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  though  there  was  an 
increase  of  1,663  in  the  total  number,  there  was  a 
decrease  of  693  among  the  white  members.  The 
effects  of  the  O'Kellyan  secession  began  to  be  felt,  par- 
ticularly in  Virginia,  and  some  parts  of  North  Carolina. 

1794.  The  number  of  annual  conferences  was 
reduced  this  year  to  fourteen,  as  some  of  the  preach- 
ers had  complained  of  there  being  so  many  at  such 
short  distances,  among  other  reasons,  because  it  pre- 
vented the  minutes  from  being  printed  until  near  the 
end  of  the  year.  This  inconvenience,  however, 
should  have  been  submitted  to  rather  than  to  have 
made  it  necessary  for  the  preachers  to  assemble  from 
such  a  vast  distance,  at  the  expense  of  so  much  time 
and  money,  as  many  of  them  did  when,  afterward, 
the  number  of  conferences  was  reduced  to  seven. 
At  these  conferences  the  following  new  circuits  were 
returned  in  the  minutes  : — Federal,  in  Maryland  ; 
Carlisle,  in  Pennsylvania  ;  Leeshurgh  and  Pendleton, 
in  Virginia  ;  Black  Swamp,  in  South  Carolina ;  New- 
Hampshire,  in  New-Hampshire  ;  Marblehead,  Orange, 
and  Fitchburg,  in  Mass.;  and  Vermont,  in  Vermont 
Oswegochee,  in  Upper  Canada,  was  divided  into  two. 

In  some   of  the    southern   states,    Methodism  was 
doomed  to  much  suffering,  arising  out  of  the  disputes 
and  divisions  occasioned  by  the  O'Kellyan  secession, 
% 


1794.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  11 

which  has  been  already  detailed.  But  while  these 
things  were  transacting  in  those  parts,  to  the  grief 
of  many  pious  hearts,  the  cause  of  Christ,  through 
the  labors  of  his  faithful  servants,  was  extend- 
ing in  more  favored  portions  of  our  country 
We  have  before  seen,  that  as  early  as  1786, 
the  Methodist  preachers  had  penetrated  the  western 
wilderness  beyond  the  Alleghany  mountains,  and  that 
they  had  gradually  extended  their  labors  from  year 
to  year,  being  led  on  and  encouraged  in  their  work 
both  by  the  example  and  precept  of  Bishop  Asbury, 
who  was  generally  in  the  foremost  ranks  when  danger 
and  hardship  were  to  be  encountered  and  endured. 
This  year  a  conference  was  appointed  to  be  held  in 
Kentucky,  on  the  15th  of  April,  and  the  bishop  set 
off  to  meet  his  brethren  at  that  place  On  the  20th 
of  January  he  reached  the  city  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 
where  he  found  himself  so  unwell,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  relinquish  his  intended  journey  to  the 
west ;  and  that  the  reader  may  see  for  himself  the 
manner  in  which  this  apostolic  man  employed  his 
time,  the  extent  of  his  labors  in  the  cause  of  God, 
and  the  privations  to  which  he  was  often  subjected, 
we  will  endeavor  to  follow  him  in  some  of  his  jour- 
neyings  this  year.  After  mentioning  the  kindness 
and  hospitality  with  which  he  had  been  treated  in  his 
affliction,  while  at  Charleston,  he  says, — 

"  I  have  written  largely  to  the  west,  and  declined  visit- 
ing those  parts  this  year.  The  American  Alps,  the  deep 
aiows,  the  great  rains,  swimming  the  creeks  and  rivers, 
riding  in  the  night,  sleeping  on  the  earthen  floors,  more  or 
less  of  which  I  must  experience,  if  I  go  to  the  western 
country,  might,  at  this  time,  cost  me  my  life.     I  have  only 

2 


12  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1794 

been  able  to  preach  four  times  in  three  weeks.  I  have 
had  sweet  peace  at  times  since  I  have  been  here  ;  the  love 
of  meetings,  especially  those  for  prayer,  the  increase  of 
hearers,  the  attention  of  the  people,  my  own  better  feelings, 
and  the  increasing  hope  of  good  that  prevails  among  the 
preachers,  lead  me  to  think  that  the  needy  shall  not  always 
be  forgotten,  nor  the  expectation  of  the  poor  perish.'''' 

He  remained  in  Charleston,  employing  his  time  in 
the  best  manner  he  could,  while  endeavoring  to  recruit 
his  exhausted  strength,  until  February  28th,  when  he 
set  off  on  a  tour  through  different  parts  of  the  southern 
country,  visiting  the  churches,  and  setting  things  in 
order.      On  the  20th  of  March,  he  says, — 

"  I  directed  my  course,  in  company  with  my  faithful 
fellow-laborer,  Tobias  Gibson,  up  the  Catawba,  settled 
mostly  by  the  Dutch.  A  barren  spot  for  religion.  Hav- 
ing rode  in  pain  twenty-four  miles,  we  came,  weary  and 

hungry,  to  O 's  tavern,  and  were   glad  to  take  what 

came  to  hand.  Four  miles  forward  we  came  to  Homes' 
Ford,  upon  Catawba  river,  where  we  could  neither  get  a 
canoe  nor  guide.  We  entered  the  water  in  an  improper 
place,  and  were  soon  among  the  rocks  and  in  the  whirl- 
pools. My  head  swam,  and  my  horse  was  affrighted. 
The  water  was  to  my  knees,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  we 
retreated  to  the  same  shore.  We  then  called  to  a  man  on 
the  other  side,  who  came  and  piloted  us  across,  for  which 
I  paid  him  well.  My  horse  being  afraid  to  take  the  water 
a  second  time,  brother  Gibson  crossed  and  sent  me  his, 
and  our  guide  took  mine  across.  We  went  on,  but  our 
troubles  were  not  at  an  end  ;  night  came  on  and  it  was 
very  dark.  It  rained  heavily,  with  powerful  lightning  and 
thunder.  We  could  not  find  the  path  that  turned  out  to 
Connell's.  In  this  situation  we  continued  until  midnight 
2 


1794.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  13 

or  past.  At  last  we  found  a  path  which  we  followed  until 
we  came  to  dear  old  father  Harper's  plantation  ;  we  made 
for  the  house,  and  called  ;  he  answered,  but  wondered 
who  it  could  be ;  he  inquired  whence  we  came  ;  I  told 
him  we  would  tell  him  when  we  came  in ;  for  it  was  rain- 
ing so  powerfully  that  we  had  not  much  time  to  talk. 
When  I  came  dripping  into  the  house,  he  cried,  '  God  bless 
your  soul,  is  it  brother  Asbury  ?   Wife,  get  up.^  " 

After  such  a  salutation  they  felt  themselves  at  home, 
though  much  fatigued  from  their  exposure  and  long 
ride. 

After  some  farther  remarks  expressive  of  his 
thankfulness  to  God  for  the  sweet  peace  of  mind  he 
enjoyed  amid  his  physical  sufferings  and  toilsome 
labors,  he  says,  "  This  campaign  has  made  me  groan, 
being  hurdeneciy — "  I  have  provided  brothers  G. 
and  L.  for  the  westward.  I  wrote  a  plan  for  sta 
tioning,  and  desired  the  preachers  to  be,  as  I  am,  in 
the  work.  I  have  no  interest,  no  passions,  in  their 
appointments  ;  my  only  aim  is  to  care  and  provide  for 
the  flock  of  Christ." — "  I  feel  that  my  sufferings 
have  been  good  preaching  to  me — especially  in 
crossing  the  waters.  I  am  solemnly  moved  in  not 
visiting  my  Holstein  and  Kentucky  brethren.  It  may 
be  their  interest  to  desire  the  preservation  of  my  life. 
While  living  I  may  supply  them  with  preachers,  and 
with  men  and  money.  I  feel  resolved  to  be  wholly 
the  Lord's.  Weak  as  I  am,  I  have  done  nothing,  I 
am  nothing,  only  for  Christ." 

From  this  part  of  the  country  he  came  north, 
through  Virginia,  and  on  to  Baltimore,  where  he  took 
sweet  counsel  in  the  midst  of  his  old  friends. 
Thence  he   passed   on    through  Pennsylvania,   New- 

2 


14  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1794. 

Jersey,  and  New-York,  visiting  all  the  principal  cities 
and  towns  on  his  way,  attending  conferences  and  preach- 
ing to  the  people,  and  passed  into  the  New-England 
states.  The  following  are  some  of  his  pointed  re- 
marks upon  the  state  of  things  in  this  country  : — 

"Ah!  here  are  walls  of  prejudice,  but  God  can  break 
them  down.  Out  of  fifteen  United  States,  thirteen  are  free  ; 
but  two  are  fettered  with  ecclesiastical  chains — taxed  to 
support  ministers,  who  are  chosen  by  a  small  committee, 
and  settled  for  life.*  My  simple  prophecy  is,  that  this 
must  come  to  an  end  with  the  present  century.f  The 
Rhode  Islanders  began  in  time  and  are  free.  Hail,  sons 
of  liberty !  Who  first  began  the  war  ?"  (of  the  revolution, 
doubtless  is  meant.)  "  Were  it  not  Connecticut  and  Mas- 
sachusetts ?  And  priests  are  now  saddled  upon  them.  O 
what  a  happy  people  would  these  be,  if  they  were  not  thus 
priest-ridden. J  It  is  well  for  me  that  I  am  not  stretching 
along,  while  my  body  is  so  weak,  and  the  heat  so  intense." 
"  I  heard — read  a  most  severe  letter  from  a  citizen  of  Ver- 
mont to  the  clergy  and  Christians  of  Connecticut,  striking 
at  the  foundation  and  principle  of  the  hierarchy  and  the 
policy  of  Yale  College,  and  the  independent  order.  It  was 
expressive  of  the  determination  of  the  Vermonters  to  con- 
tinue free  from  ecclesiastical  fetters,  to  follow  the  Bible, 
equal  liberty  to  all  denominations  of  Christians.  If  so, 
why  may  not  the  Methodists,  who  have  been  repeatedly 
solicited,  visit  these  people  also  ?" 

*  It  is  not,  I  believe,  generally  the  case,  that  a  minister  is 
settled  for  life. 

t  It  has  come  to  an  end,  though  not  quite  so  soon  as  there 
predicted. 

;{;  The  bishop  undoubtedly  alludes  to  their  being  supported 
by  law — by  a  legal  taxation,  which  he  considered  contrary  to 
the  gospel — and  not  to  the  fact  simply  of  their  having  stated 
pastors. 
2 


1794. J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  15 

These  extracts  sliovv,  in  a  striking  manner,  the 
innmense  labors  performed  by  this  primitive  bishop, 
in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  Nor  was  he  alone  in 
these  labors.  His  example  provoked  others  to  fol- 
low in  his  footsteps,  who,  though  they  were  not 
called  to  travel  so  extensively,  were  equally  assiduous, 
and  alike  successful  in  their  endeavors  to  plant  the 
standard  of  Jesus  Christ  in  various  parts  of  this  con- 
tinent. Among  others  we  may  mention  a  William 
Waiters,  the  first  Methodist  preacher  raised  up  in 
America,  who  traversed  the  western  wilds,  and  labor- 
ed in  the  woods  of  Kentucky  ;  a  Garrettson,  who 
opened  the  way  into  the  interior  of  New- York  stale, 
and  penetrated  even  to  Vermont ;  a  Lee,  who  led  the 
way  into  New-England,  and  laid  the  foundation  for 
that  work  of  God  there  which  has  since  reared  itself 
in  beauty  and  glory,  amid  "  fightings  without  and 
fears  within  ;"  a  Roberts  and  a  Cooper,  who  followed 
in  the  track  marked  out  for  them  by  Lee,  and  nobly 
stood  their  ground  amid  storms  of  reproach,  and 
"  labors  more  abundant."  These  leaders  of  "  God's 
sacramental  host"  being  aided  by  their  associates,  all 
zealous  for  God  and  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  were 
scattering  the  "  good  seed  of  the  kingdom"  in  every 
direction,  and  we  who  have  followed  them  have  had 
the  happiness  of  seeing  it  "  take  root  and  bear  fruit," 
in  some  places  thirty,  in  others  sixty,  and  in  some 
a  hundred  fold. 

In  the  preceding  extract  from  Bishop  Asbury's 
Journal,  we  have  seen  that  he  alludes  to  Vermont,  to 
which  they  had  been  solicited  to  send  preachers. 
It  is  well  known  that  in  this  state  there  were  no  legal 
barriers  in  the  way  of  any  denomination  of  Christians, 

2 


IG  A   HISTORY   OF   THK  [1794 

but  that  all  were  permitted  the  free  and  unrestrained 
exercise  of  their  pecuharities.  Ahliough  as  early  as 
1788  Mr.  Garrettson  had  visited  the  southern  borders 
of  the  state,  and  preached  in  a  few  places,  it  was  not 
until  this  year  that  any  of  our  preachers  obtained  a 
permanent  foothold  there  ;  but  this  year,  Joshua  Hull 
was  sent  to  Vermont,  and  his  labors  were  made 
a  blessing  to  many.  Since  that  time  the  cause  of 
Methodism  has  advanced  rapidly  among  the  people  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  state,  to  the  reformation  and 
salvation  of  thousands  of  souls. 

This  year  also  Methodism  was  introduced  into  the 
province  of  Maine,  by  the  indefatigable  labors  of 
Jesse  Lee.  In  Portland  he  preached  in  the  Congre- 
gational church,  and  then  passed  on  through  Freeport 
and  Bath,  crossed  the  Kennebeck  river,  and  went  as 
far  as  the  town  of  Penobscot.  In  most  of  the  places 
he  was  cordially  received,  and  succeeded  in  forming  a 
regular  circuit,  and  this  laid  a  foundation  for  the  perma- 
nent establishment  of  Methodism  in  Maine.  He  gives 
the  following  account  of  his  first  visit  to  Portsmouth  : — 

"  Sunday  the  8th  of  September,  I  went  to  hear  Mr. 
Walters  in  the  forenoon  and  in  the  afternoon.  After  he 
was  done,  I  went  with  some  friends  to  the  court-house, 
but  the  great  men  would  not  let  us  go  into  the  house  to 
preach,  so  I  got  on  the  step  of  the  door  of  the  court-house 
and  began.  When  I  commenced  I  had  about  a  dozen 
people,  but  they  soon  began  to  flock  together,  and  I  had 
some  hundreds  of  them  to  hear  me  before  I  had  done. 
They  stood  in  different  parts  of  the  streets.  I  found  much 
freedom  in  speaking,  and  the  word  reached  many  of  the 
hearts  of  the  hearers,  who  were  as  solemn  and  attentive 
as  though  they  had  been  in  a  meeting  house." 


\ 


1794.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  17 

It  may  be  remarked  that  the  settlements  along  the 
Penobscot  river  at  that  time  had  been  newly  formed, 
and  were  destitute  of  settled  pastors  ;  hence  the  people 
were  much  gratified  with  the  visit  ol  Mr,  Lee,  and  those 
who  succeeded  him  ;  and  though  he  had  to  contend 
with  many  difficulties,  as  a  stranger  bearing  a  message 
differing  in  so  many  particulars  from  w^hat  they  had 
been  accustomed  to  hear,  yet  God  gave  him  favor  in 
the  eyes  of  the  people,  and  strength  to  persevere  in 
his  good  work,  until  he  had  opened  a  way  for  the 
establishment  of  regular  preaching  in  that  destitute 
part  of  the  country. 

New-Hampshire  was  also  visited  about  this  time. 
John  Hill  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  sent  into 
that  stale  :  but  with  what  success  I  cannot  tell,  as  we 
do  not  find  any  members  returned  on  the  minutes  in 
that  state  for  this  year. 

At  the  several  annual  conferences  for  this  year,  the 
following  resolutions  were  passed  : — 

"  It  is  most  earnestly  recommended  by  the  conferences, 
that  the  last  Friday  in  February,  1795,  be  set  apart 
throughout  the  United  States,  by  the  members  of  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church,  as  a  day  of  solemn  fasting  and 
prayer,  and  that  all  worldly  concerns  be  laid  aside. 

"  It  is  also  recommended  by  said  conferences,  that  the 
last  Thursday  in  October  be  set  apart  as  a  day  of  solemn 
and  general  thanksgiving,  and  that  all  servile  labor  be  laid 
aside,  and  those  days  be  observed  with  all  the  solemnity 
of  a  Sabbath." 

They  furthermore  said,  "  The  bishops  and  confer- 
ences desire  that  the  preachers  generally  change  every 
six  months,  by  the  order  of  the  presiding  elder,  when- 
ever it  can  be  made  convenient." 

2 


18  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1794. 

No  less  than  twenty-eight  preachers  took  a  loca- 
tion this  year,  either  in  consequence  of  "  weakness 
of  body  or  family  concerns."  Two,  Jeremiah  Cos- 
don  and  Jethro  Johnson,  withdrew  from  the  connec- 
tion ;  and  four  were  ''  dismissed  for  improper  con- 
duct." Four  had  died,  namely,  Philip  Cox,  Henry 
Birchett,  James  Wilson,  and  John  Wayne. 

Of  Philip  Cox,  who  was  an  Englishman  by  birth, 
it  is  stated  that  he  had  been  sixteen  years  in  the 
ministry,  during  which  time  he  had  traveled  exten- 
sively in  several  of  the  states,  and  preached  the  gos- 
pel with  considerable  success.  He  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  of  quick  apprehension,  and  a  great 
lover  of  union,  and  often  prayed  and  preached  to  the 
admiration  of  his  hearers.  He  was  among  the 
pioneers  of  the  western  wilds,  where  he  labored  assidu- 
ously and  strove  to  do  good  by  the  circulation  of  religious 
books.  On  his  return  from  the  west  he  was  seized 
with  a  complaint  which  soon  put  a  period  to  his  ex- 
istence. Though  in  his  last  moments,  through  the 
violence  of  his  disease,  he  was,  for  the  most  part  of 
the  time,  delirious,  yet  he  gave  evidence  to  his  friends 
that  he  died  in  peace. 

Henry  Birchett  fell  a  martyr  to  his  work,  after 
having  been  in  the  traveling  ministry  only  between 
five  and  six  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Brunswick 
county,  Virginia.  He  volunteered  his  services  for 
four  years  in  the  dangerous  stations  of  Kentucky 
and  Cumberland,  and  wore  himself  out  in  preaching 
the  gospel  in  these  new  countries.  His  name, 
therefore,  stands  enrolled  among  those  worthy  and  self- 
denying  men  who  hazarded  their  all  for  the  sake  of 
carrying  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  to  the  poor 
2 


1795.  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  19 

and  the  destitute,  exposed  to  hunger,  cold,  and  naked- 
ness, and  to  the  depredations  of  savages :  for  such 
was  the  stale  of  things  in  Kentucky  and  other  places 
where  he  traveled,  that  often  even  the  necessaiies  of 
life  could  not  be  had,  nor  the  wildernesses  traversed 
without  the  danger  of  being  intercepted  by  savage 
foes.  But  the  meekness,  love,  prayers,  sermons, 
and  sufferings  in  the  cause  of  Christ  of  Henry  Bir- 
chett,  will  not  be  forgotten  by  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  Kentucky,  who  have  reaped  spiritual  benefit  from 
the  work  which  was  commenced  by  his  labors  and 
sacrifices,  and  has  been  since  carried  forward  by  his 
successors  in  the  ministry. 

Of  James  Wilson  and  John  Wayne,  it  is  said  that, 
after  the  former  li;id  labored  in  the  ministry  about  six, 
and  the  latter  about  four  years,  with  general  accept- 
ance, they  both  died  in  peace. 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.       Preachers. 

This  year,     52,794         13,814         66,608  301 

Last  year,     51,416         16,227         67,643  269 


Decrease,  1,035      In.   32 

1795.  The  number  of  annual  conferences  was 
reduced  this  year  to  seven,  greatly  to  the  inconveni- 
ence of  the  preachers,  and  it  is  believed  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  work  of  God.  This  diminution  in  the 
number  of  the  conferences  was  made  in  consequence 
of  the  general  opposition  of  the  preachers  to  having 
so  many,  by  which  they  thought  the  powers  of  the 
conferences  were  abridged,  and  those  of  the  bishop 
proportionably  augmented ;  and  hence,  to  take  away 
all  such  ground  of  fear,  the  bishops  yielded  to  the 

2 


20  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1795. 

wishes  of  their  brethren,  notwithstanding  they  were 
satisfied  that,  otherwise,  it  was  not  for  the  best. 

Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  extent  of  the  an- 
nual conferences  at  this  time,  when  it  is  remembered 
that  tiie  New- York  conference  comprehended  within  its 
bounds  most  of  the  state  of  New- York,  the  whole  of 
New-England,  and  the  province  of  Upper  Canada;  out 
of  which  have  been  since  formed,  the  New-England, 
Maine,  New-Hampshire,  Troy,  Oneida,  Black  River,  and 
part  of  Genesee  and  the  Canada  conferences;  and  the 
other  conferences  were  proporlionably  great  in  extent. 
Some  of  the  circuits  at  that  time  included  a  larger 
extent  of  territory  than  districts  do  now, — a  four 
weeks'  circuit  often  being  not  less  than  four  hundred 
miles  in  circumference,  and  including  from  twenty  to 
forty  appointments  in  thirty  days.  Such  were  the 
labors  of  the  Methodist  ministry  in  those  days. 

In  consequence  of  reducing  the  number  of  annual 
conferences  to  seven,  some  of  the  preachers,  who  la- 
bored in  the  frontier  circuits,  had  to  come  from  two  to 
four  hundred  miles  to  attend  the  conferences,  which 
obliged  them  to  leave  their  regular  work  from  three  to 
six  weeks,  during  which  time  the  people  were  unsup- 
plied  with  the  word  and  ordinances  of  the  gospel. 
This,  in  addition  to  the  expense  of  time  and  money 
consumed  in  traveling  such  a  distance,  was  an  evil  of 
no  small  magnitude,  and  against  which  a  remedy  has 
been  since  wisely  provided  in  an  increase  of  the  num- 
ber of  the  annual  conferences. 

But  the  reduction  in  the  number  of  conferences 
diminished  naught  from  the  labors  of  the  superintend- 
ent, nor  of  those  preachers  who  were  fighting  the  bat- 
tles of  the  Lord  in  different  parts  of  the  great  field  in 

2 


X 


1795.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  21 

wliich  they  were  employed.  The  former  made  his 
usual  tour  of  the  continent,  extending  his  labors  this 
year  into  the  state  of  Vermont,  where  he  preached  in 
the  woods  in  the  town  of  Bennington,  to  a  congrega- 
tion made  up,  he  says,  of  Deists,  Universahsls,  and 
other  sinners,  some  of  whom  seemed  to  be  melted  to 
tenderness  under  the  word. 

About  this  time  the  minds  of  many  people  were 
corrupted  by  the  deislical  writings  of  Thomas  Paine, 
whose  effusions  against  the  Bible  were  received  with 
greater  avidity  by  Americans  on  account  of  the  emi- 
nent services  he  had  rendered  to  his  country  during 
the  war  of  the  revolution.  But  Thomas  Paine  as  a 
politician  and  Thomas  Paine  as  a  theologian  were 
very  different  men.  His  book,  however,  against  the 
Bible,  was  published  by  the  booksellers,  which,  toge- 
ther with  others  of  a  kindred  character,  were  widely 
circulated,  and  they  were  exerting  a  most  deleterious 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  many  of  our  citizens,  and 
threatened  to  poison  the  fountains  of  knowledge  with 
their  pestiferous  contents.  It  could  hardly  be  other- 
wise, under  these  circumstances,  than  that  immorahty 
should  abound,  and  the  "love  of  many  wax  cold." 
And  the  imrestrained  freedom  of  the  press,  together 
with  the  laxity  with  which  the  laws  against  vice  were 
administered,  threatened  to  deluge  the  country  with 
ungodhness.  To  impress  upon  all,  and  more  espe- 
cially upon  the  members  and  friends  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  the  necessity  of  a  more  thorough 
and  extensive  reformation  among  all  orders  of  people, 
a  "  GENERAL  fast"  was  recommendcd  by  the  several 
annual  conferences,  in  the  following  address  to  the 
people  of  their  charge  : — 


82  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [179^ 

"  It  is  recommended  by  the  general  traveling  ministry  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  that  the  first  Friday  in 
March,  1796,  should  be  held  as  a  most  solemn  day  of  fast- 
ing, humiliation,  prayer,  and  supplication.  It  is  desired 
that  it  should  be  attended  to  in  all  our  societies  and  con- 
gregations, with  Sabbatical  strictness — that  we  should  be- 
wail our  manifold  sins  and  iniquities — our  growing  idola- 
try, which  is  covetousness  and  the  prevailing  love  of  the 
world — our  shameful  breach  of  promises,  and  irreligious 
habits  of  making  contracts,  even  without  the  intention  of  hon- 
est heathens  to  fulfil  them — our  superstition,  the  trusting  in 
ceremonial  and  legal  righteousness ;  and  substituting  means 
and  opinions  for  religion — the  profanation  of  the  name  of 
the  Lord — the  contempt  of  the  Sabbath,  even  by  those  who 
acknowledge  the  obligation  we  are  under  to  keep  it  holy, 
for  many  make  no  distinction  between  this  and  a  common 
day,  and  others  make  a  very  bad  distinction,  by  sleeping, 
walking,  visiting,  talking  about  the  world,  and  taking  their 
pleasure  ;  too  many  also,  in  many  parts  of  the  country, 
profane  the  sacred  day,  by  running  their  land  and  water 
stages,  wagons,  &c., — disobedience  to  parents,  various 
debaucheries,  drunkenness,  and  such  like — to  lament  the 
deep-rooted  vassalage  that  still  reigneth  in  many  parts  of 
these  free,  independent  United  States — to  call  upon  the 
Lord  to  direct  our  rulers  and  teach  our  senators  wisdom — 
that  the  Lord  would  teach  our  people  a  just  and  lawful 
submission  to  their  rulers — that  America  may  not  commit 
abominations  with  other  corrupt  nations  of  the  earth,  and 
partake  of  their  sins  and  their  plagues — that  the  gospel 
may  be  preached  with  more  purity,  and  be  heard  with 
more  affection — that  He  would  stop  the  growing  infidelity 
of  this  age,  by  calling  out  men  who  shall  preach  and  live 
the  gospel — that  the  professors  may  believe  the  truths,  feel 
the  power,  partake  of  the  blessings,  breathe  the  spirit,  and 
obey  the  precepts  of  this  glorious  gospel  dispensation — 
2 


\ 


1795.J  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  1^3 

that  Africans  and  Indians  may  help  to  fill  the  pure  church 
of  God." 

At  the  same  time,  with  a  view  to  manifest  their 
gratitude  for  what  God  had  done,  and  for  the  many- 
temporal  and  spiritual  mercies  vouchsafed  unto  the 
people,  a  day  of  "  general  thanksgiving,"  was  also 
recommended  in  the  words  following : — 

"  It  is  recommended,  by  the  general  ministry,  to  all  our 
dearly  beloved  brethren  and  sisters  that  compose  our 
societies  and  sacred  assemblies,  to  observe  the  last  Thurs- 
day in  October,  1796,  as  a  day  of  holy  gratitude  and 
thanksgiving — to  lay  aside  the  cares  of  the  world,  and  to 
spend  the  day  in  acts  of  devotional  gratitude — as  a  society, 
to  give  glory  to  God  for  his  late  goodness  to  the  ancient 
parent  society  from  whom  we  are  derived  :  that  they  have 
been  honored  with  the  conversion  of  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands within  these  two  years  last  past — for  such  a  signal 
display  of  his  power  in  the  Methodist  society,  within  the 
space  of  twenty-six  years,  through  the  continent  of  America, 
as  may  be  seen  in  the  volume  of  our  annual  minutes,  pub- 
lished in  1795 — for  the  late  glorious  and  powerful  work  we 
have  had  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  and  which  still  con- 
tinues in  an  eminent  and  special  manner,  in  some  parts  of 
our  American  connection — for  the  many  faithful  public 
witnesses  which  have  been  raised  up,  and  that  so  few,  (com- 
paratively speaking,)  have  dishonoured  their  holy  calling — 
that  we  have  had  so  many  drawn  from  the  depths  of  sin 
and  misery,  to  the  heights  of  love  and  holiness  among  the 
subjects  of  grace  ;  numbers  of  whom  are  now  living,  and 
others  have  died  in  the  full  and  glorious  triumph  of  faith — 
to  take  into  remembrance  the  goodness  and  wisdom  of  God 
displayed  toward  America,  by  making  it  an  asylum  for 
those  who  are  distressed  in  Europe  with  war  and  want, 
and  oppressed   with  ecclesiastic   and  civil  tyranny ;  the 


24  A    HISTORY    01-    THE  [1795. 

mercilul  termination  of  our  various  wars  ;  the  pacifications 
of  the  savage  tribes  ;  and  the  rapid  settlement  and  vs^onder- 
ful  population  of  the  continent ;  that  we  have  been  able  to 
feed  so  many  thousands,  at  home  and  abroad  ;  that  we 
have  had  such  faithful,  wise,  and  skilful  rulers  ;  that  we 
have  such  good  constitutions  formed  for  the  respective  states 
— for  the  general  union  and  government,  that  this  may  be 
kept  pure  and  permanent — for  the  admirable  revolution 
obtained  and  established  at  so  small  a  price  of  blood  and 
treasure — that  religious  establishments  by  law  are  con- 
demned and  exploded  in  almost  every  spot  of  this  exten- 
sive empire.  And  for  African  liberty  ;  we  feel  gratitude 
that  many  thousands  of  these  poor  people  are  free  and 
pious." 

The  work  of  God  spread  this  year  in  several 
parts  of  New^-England,  more  particularly  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Maine,  New-Hampshire,  and  Vermont,  and 
also  in  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  the  state 
of  New- York.  But  nothing  occurred  in  this  depart- 
ment worthy  of  special  notice. 

No  less  than  thirty-two  preachers  located  this 
year,  three  withdrew  from  the  church,  and  Jive  had 
died. 


This  year 
Last  year 

Numhers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.              Colored.               Total. 

48,121         12,170        60,291 
52,794         13,814         66,608 

Preachers. 

313 
301 

Decrease         4,673  1,644  6,317      In.    12 

This  great  decrease  was  owing,  in  a  great  measure, 
to  the  O'Kellyan  division,  which  was  now  at  its 
height,  and  was  spreading  desolation  in  many  of  the 
societies  in  Virginia,  and  also  in  some  parts  of  North 
Carohna. 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  25 

1796.  There  were  seven  annual  conferences  held 
this  year  :  and  the  following  new  circuits  were  added  : 
Shelby  and  Logan,  in  the  Western  Conference ;  Bath 
and  Kennebec^  in  the  province  of  Maine  ;  Cape  May, 
in  New-Jersey ;  Chesterfield,  in  New-Hampshire ; 
and  Vershire,  in  Vermont. 

This  year  a  conference  was  held  at  Green  Briar, 
in  the  upper  part  of  Virginia,  which  Bishop  Asbury 
attended  ;  after  wliich  lie  sot  off  on  another  tour  over 
the  mountains  and  through  the  valleys. 

"  Frequently,"  he  says,  "  we  were  in  danger  of  being 
plucked  from  our  horses  by  the  boughs  of  the  trees  under 
which  we  rode.  About  seven  o'clock,  after  crossing  six 
mountains  and  many  rocky  creeks  and  fords  of  Elk  and 
Monongahela  rivers,  we  made  the  Valley  of  Distress,  called 
by  the  natives  Tyger's  Valley.  We  had  a  comfortable 
lodging  at  Mr.  White's.  And  here  I  must  acknowledge 
the  kindness  and  decency  of  the  family,  and  their  readiness 
to  duty,  sacred  and  civil.  Thence  we  hastened  on  at  the 
rate  of  forty-two  miles  a  day." — "  After  encountering  many 
difficulties,  known  only  to  God  and  ourselves,  we  came  to 
Morgantown.  I  doubt  whether  I  shall  ever  request  any 
person  to  come  and  meet  me  at  the  levels  of  Green  Briar, 
or  to  accompany  me  across  the  mountains  again,  as  brother 
D.  Hitt  has  now  done.  O  !  how  checkered  is  life  !  How 
thankful  ought  I  to  be  that  I  am  here  safe,  with  life  and 
Hmbs,  in  peace  and  plenty,  at  kind  brother  S 's." 

After  performing  this  fatiguing  journey,  visiting 
various  places  and  preaching  to  the  people,  he  once 
more  found  himself  in  more  comfortable  quarters  in 
the  older  states,  where  he  persevered  with  his  wonted 
diligence  in  the  grand  work  to  which  he  had  been 
called,  and  in  which  his  soul  delighted.      After  arriv- 

Vol.  n 2 


26  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1790 

ing  at  Baltimore,  he  takes  a  "  review  of  his  journey 
for  some  months  past,"  which,  as  it  will  give  the 
reader  some  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  the  bishop 
employed  his  time,  we  will  present  in  his  own  words  : 

"  From  the  best  judgment  I  can  form,  the  distance" 
(I  have  traveled)  "  is  as  follows  : — from  Baltimore 
to  Charleston,  S.  C,  one  thousand  miles  ;  thence  up 
the  state  of  South  Carolina  two  hundred  miles  ;  from 
the  centre  to  the  west  of  Georgia  two  hundred  miles  ; 
through  North  Carolina  one  hundred  miles  ;  through 
the  state  of  Tennessee  one  hundred  miles  ;  through 
the  west  of  Virginia  three  hundred  miles  ;  through 
Pennsylvania  and  the  west  of  Maryland,  and  down 
to  Baltimore,  four  hundred  miles."  And  the  reader 
will  recollect  that  these  journeys  were  performed 
generally  on  horseback,  sometimes  through  creeks, 
morasses,  and  over  high  mountains,  often  lodging  in  log 
cabins,  or  on  the  ground,  with  coarse  fare,  and  in  the 
meantime  preaching  usually  every  day.  It  is  true 
that  in  the  older  settlements  he  was  not  only  cordially 
received  and  treated  with  great  hospitality,  but  was 
blessed  with  an  abundance  of  temporal  comforts. 
And  the  above  is  but  a  fair  specimen  of  the  mode  of 
life  pursued  by  most  of  the  Methodist  preachers  of 
that  day,  with  this  exception  only,  that  they  did  not 
travel  so  extensively  as  Bishop  Asbury  did. 

The  work  of  God  spread  this  year  in  some  parts 
of  New-England,  particularly  in  the  province  of 
Maine,  and  in  the  states  of  New-Hampshire  and 
Vermont.  Alluding  to  these  things,  while  on  his  visit 
to  that  part  of  the  country,  Bishop  Asbury  remarks  : — 

"  This  day  I  was  led  out  greatly  for  New-England.  I 
believe  God  will  work  among  this  people.  Perhaps  they 
2 


]796.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  27 

have  not  had  such  a  time  here  for  many  years.  The 
power  of  God  was  present,  and  some  felt  as  at  heaven's 
gate.  Two  or  three  women  spoke  as  on  the  borders  of  eter- 
nity, and  within  sight  of  glory." 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark  here,  that  Bishop  As- 
bury,  wherever  he  was,  did  not  content  himself  sim- 
ply with  preaching  to  the  people,  but  if  time  permit- 
ted, met  the  classes,  explained  to  them  the  discipline, 
and  attended  to  all  the  duties  of  a  pastor.  Thus,  speak- 
ing of  being  in  the  city  of  New- York,  he  says  that 
he  "  preached  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening,  alter- 
nately in  each  of  the  three  churches  then  in  the  city, 
besides  meeting  six  classes  in  the  course  of  the  day." — 
"  In  meeting  the  society,  I  observed  to  them,  that  they 
knew  but  little  of  my  life  and  labors,  unless  in  the 
pulpit,  family,  or  class  meeting," — intimating  that  it 
was  impossible  for  them  to  have  any  adequate  idea 
of  his  general  labors  and  sufferings  through  the 
country. 

This  year  that  eminent  servant  of  God,  Benjamin 
Abbott,  took  his  departure  to  another  world.  And  as 
his  life  and  labors  made  a  powerful  impression  upon 
the  community,  and  tended  greatly  to  enlarge  the 
work  of  God  wherever  he  traveled,  it  seems  suitable 
that  a  more  particular  account  should  be  given  of  him 
than  of  some  others. 

He  was  born  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
year  1732,  and  grew  to  manhood  "  without  hope  and 
without  God  in  the  world,"  and  so  continued  until 
the  fortieth  year  of  his  age,  when  it  pleased  God  to 
bring  him  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  Methodist  preaching.  Soon  after  his 
conversion  he  gave  evidence  of  his  call  to  the  gospel 

2 


28  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [179G. 

ministry,  and  he  entered  upon  this  work  with  an  ardor 
of  mind  which  plainly  evinced  that  he  was  moving 
in  tiie  order  of  God,  and  it  may  be  truly  said  that 
"  signs  and  wonders  were  wrought"  by  his  instrumen- 
tality. For  several  years  he  labored  merely  as  a  lo- 
cal preacher,  supporting  himself  and  family  by  the 
labor  of  his  hands.  He  continued  in  this  way  greatly 
blessed  in  his  efforts  to  bring  sinners  to  the  know- 
ledge of  Christ,  until  April,  1789,  when  he  joined 
the  traveling  ministry,  and  was  stationed  in  Dutchess 
circuit,  in  the  state  of  New-York.  From  this  time 
till  disabled  by  infirmities,  he  continued  traveling 
and  preaching  through  various  parts  of  New- York, 
New- Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Delaware 
states,  edifying  the  church  by  his  example  and  labors, 
and  he  was  an  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God  of  the 
awakening  and  conversion  of  thousands  of  souls.  As 
some  portions  of  his  life  were  attended  with  remarka- 
ble interpositions  of  divine  Providence  and  peculiar 
manifestations  of  the  grace  of  God,  I  think  it  will  be 
both  pleasing  and  profitable  to  the  reader  to  present  a 
few  of  the  instances  in  this  place.  While  laboring  in 
the  state  of  Delaware,  he  gives  the  following  account : 

"  Next  day  I  set  out  for  my  appointment,  but  being  a 
stranger,  I  stopped  at  a  house  to  inquire  the  way,  and  the 
man  told  me  he  was  just  going  to  that  place,  for  there  was  to 
be  a  Methodist  preacher  there  that  day  ;  and  our  preacher, 
said  he,  is  to  be  there  to  trap  him  in  his  discourse,  and  if  you 
will  wait  a  few  minutes  until  a  neitjhbor  of  mine  comes,  I 
will  go  with  you.  In  a  few  minutes  the  man  came,  who,  it 
seems,  was  a  constable.  So  we  set  off,  and  they  soon  fell 
into  conversation  about  the  preacher,  having  no  idea  of  my 
being  the  man,  as  I  never  wore  black,  or  any  kind  of 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  29 

garb  that  indicated  my  being  a  preacher,  and  so  I  rode  un- 
suspected. The  constable  being  a  very  profane  man,  he 
swore  by  all  the  gods  he  had,  good  and  bad,  that  he  would 
lose  his  right  arm  from  his  body  if  the  Methodist  preacher 
did  not  go  to  jail  that  day.  This  was  the  theme  of  their 
discourse.  My  mind  was  greatly  exercised  on  the  occa- 
sion, and  what  added,  as  it  were,  double  weight,  I  was  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  place,  where  I  knew  no  one.  When 
we  arrived  at  the  place  appointed,  I  saw  about  two  hun- 
dred horses  hitched.  I  also  hitched  mine,  and  retired  into 
the  woods,  where  I  prayed  and  covenanted  with  God  on 
my  knees,  that  if  he  stood  by  me  in  this  emergency,  I 
would  be  more  for  him,  through  grace,  than  ever  I  had 
been.  I  then  arose  and  went  to  my  horse,  with  a  perfect 
resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  whether  to  death  or  to  jail. 
I  took  my  saddlebags  and  went  to  the  house  ;  the  man  took 
me  into  a  private  room,  and  desired  I  would  preach  in 
favor  of  the  war,  as  I  was  in  a  Presbyterian  settlement. 
I  replied,  I  should  preach  as  God  should  direct  me.  He 
appeared  very  uneasy  and  left  me,  and  just  before  preach- 
ing, he  came  in  again  and  renewed  his  request  that  I 
would  preach  up  for  war  ;  I  replied  as  before,  and  then 
followed  him  out  among  the  people,  where  he  made  pro- 
clamation as  follows  : — Gentlemen,  this  house  is  my  own, 
and  no  gentleman  shall  be  interrupted  in  my  house  in  time 
of  his  discourse,  but  after  he  has  done  you  may  do  as  you 
please.  Thank  God,  said  I  softly,  that  I  have  liberty  once 
more  to  warn  sinners  before  I  die.  I  then  took  my  stand,  and 
the  house  was  so  crowded  that  no  one  could  sit  down. 
Some  hundreds  were  round  about  the  door.  I  stood  about 
two  or  three  feet  from  the  constable  who  had  sworn  so  bit- 
terly. When  he  saw  that  I  was  the  man  he  had  so  abused  on 
the  way,  with  so  many  threats  and  oaths,  his  countenance 
fell  and  he  turned  pale.  I  gave  out  a  hymn,  but  no  one 
oflered  to  sing ;  I  sung  four  lines,  and  kneeled  down  and 

2 


30  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796. 

prayed.  When  I  arose,  I  preached  with  great  hberty.  I 
feh  such  power  from  God  rest  upon  me,  that  I  was  above 
the  fear  of  either  men  or  devils,  not  regarding  whether 
death  or  a  jail  should  be  my  lot.  Looking  forward  I  saw 
a  decent  looking  man  trembling,  and  tears  flowed  in  abun- 
dance, which  I  soon  discovered  was  the  case  with  many 
others.  After  preaching,  I  told  them  I  expected  they 
wanted  to  know  by  what  authority  I  had  come  into  that 
country  to  preach.  I  then  told  them  my  conviction  and 
conversion,  the  place  of  my  nativity  and  place  of  residence  ; 
also,  my  call  to  the  ministry,  and  that  seven  years  I  had 
labored  in  God's  vineyard  ;  that  I  spent  my  own  money 
and  found  and  wore  my  own  clothes,  and  that  it  was  the 
love  that  I  had  for  their  precious  souls,  for  whom  Christ 
died,  that  had  induced  me  to  come  among  them  at  the  risk 
of  my  life  ;  and  then  exhorted  them  to  fly  to  Jesus,  the  ark 
of  safety — that  all  things  were  ready — to  seek,  and  they 
should  find,  to  knock,  and  it  should  be  opened  unto  them. 
By  this  time  the  people  were  generally  melted  into  tears. 
1  then  concluded,  and  told  them  on  that  day  two  weeks 
they  might  expect  preaching  again.  I  mounted  my  horse 
and  set  out  with  a  friendly  Quaker  for  a  pilot.  We  had 
not  rode  above  fifty  yards,  when  I  heard  one  hallooing 
after  us.  I  looked  back,  and  saw  about  fifty  running  after 
us.  I  then  concluded  that  to  jail  I  must  go.  We  stopped, 
and  when  they  came  up,  I  crave  your  name,  said  one, — I 
told  him,  and  so  we  parted.  He  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  was  the  person  I  had  taken  notice  of  in  time  of 
preaching,  and  observed  him  to  be  in  great  anxiety  of 
mind.  No  one  ofliered  me  any  violence  ;  but  they  commit- 
ted the  next  preacher,  on  that  day  two  weeks,  to  the  com- 
mon jail.  I  went  home  with  the  kind  Quaker,  where  I 
tarried  all  night.  I  found  that  himself  and  wife  were  un- 
der serious  impressions,  and  had  had  Methodist  preaching 
at  their  house." 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  31 

Though  Mr.  Wesley  gives  several  accounts  in  his 
Journals  of  some  persons  being  so  affected  under  his 
preaching  as  to  fall  helpless  to  the  floor  or  on  the 
ground,  yet  such  things  had  not  been  common  in  this 
country.  It  is  true  that  in  the  great  revival  which  took 
place  in  Virginia  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism,  several 
such  instances  are  recorded.  But  under  the  power- 
ful preaching  of  Mr.  Abbott  many  examples  of  a  par- 
tial suspension  of  the  animal  functions  occurred,  as  the 
following  extract  will  show  : — 

"  Next  day  I  went  on  to  my  appointment,  where  we  had 
a  large  congregation  :  I  preached  with  life  and  power,  and 
God  attended  the  word  with  the  energy  of  his  Spirit.  A 
Quaker  girl  was  powerfully  wrought  upon,  so  that  every 
joint  in  her  shook,  and  she  would  have  fallen  to  the  floor, 
but  four  or  live  took  and  carried  her  out  of  the  door  ;  when 
she  had  recovered  a  little  she  went  to  a  neighbor's  house 
and  told  him  that  she  had  seen  the  dreadfulest  old  man 
tiidt  she  ever  saw  in  all  her  life,  and  that  he  almost  scared 
her  to  death,  for  his  eyes  looked  like  two  balls  of  fire,  and 
that  she  expected  every  minute  he  would  jump  at  her.  But, 
said  the  neighbor,  I  know  the  old  man,  and  he  would  not 
hurt  nor  touch  you.  I  went  on,  and  the  power  of  the  Lord 
continued  among  us  in  such  a  manner  that  many  fell  to  the 
floor,  and  others  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  One  young  wo- 
man rose  and  began  to  exhort  the  people ;  I  stopped 
preaching,  which  I  always  judged  was  best,  in  similar 
instances,  and  let  God  send  by  whom  he  will  send  :  she 
went  on  for  some  time  with  great  life  and  power,  and 
then  cried  out.  Let  us  pray  ;  we  all  kneeled  down,  and  she 
prayed  with  life  and  liberty,  until  she  was  spent  and  so 
forbore.  A  preacher  being  present,  I  called  on  him,  and 
he  went  to  prayer,  and  while  he  was  praying  three  were 
set  at  liberty  ;  and,  after  him,  myself  and  others  prayed 

2 


32  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1796. 

and  several  received  justifying  faith.  The  shout  continued 
for  the  space  of  three  or  four  hours.  After  meeting  broke 
up,  I  thought  it  was  not  necessary  to  meet  the  class,  as  wc 
had  such  a  powerful  time,  and  it  had  lasted  so  long 
already.  The  young  woman  who  had  given  the  exhorta- 
tion and  prayed,  took  five  others  with  her,  and  retired  to 
the  barn  to  pray  for  the  mourners,  who  went  with  them, 
where  they  continued  until  late  in  the  evening,  and  three 
souls  were  set  at  liberty  ;  another,  as  she  was  retiu*ning 
home,  in  sore  distress,  fell  on  her  face  in  the  woods,  where 
she  continued  in  prayer  until  God  set  her  soul  at  liberty 
to  rejoice  in  his  love.  An  old  Presbyterian  woman  re- 
quested me  to  call  at  her  house  on  the  ensuing  day,  as  she 
wanted  to  discourse  with  me  on  religion ;  I  did  call,  and 
she  received  me  very  kindly,  and  then  related  her  convic- 
tion and  conversion,  and  added,  that  some  years  after, 
God  had  sealed  her  his  to  the  day  of  eternity ;  and,  said 
she,  neither  our  preachers  or  people  will  believe  me,  when 
I  tell  them  how  happy  I  am.  I  then  endeavored  to  ex- 
plain to  her  the  nature  of  sanctification,  and  what  it  was, 
and  asked  her  if  we  should  pray  together  ;  she  replied. 
With  all  my  heart.  After  prayer  I  departed  in  peace, 
having  no  doubt  but  what  God  had  sanctified  her  soul  and 
body.  She  was  the  first  Presbyterian  that  I  ever  had  met 
with,  that  would  acknowledge  sanctification  in  its  proper 
sense. 

"  I  went  to  my  next  appointment,  where  I  had  put  brother 
G.  D.,  who  professed  sanctification,  class  leader,  and  the  Lord 
attended  his  words  with  power.  This  had  brought  the  man 
of  the  house  where  the  class  met  into  doubts,  whether  the 
work  was  of  God  or  the  devil ;  for  the  people  had  frequently 
fallen,  both  under  his  prayer  and  exhortation.  Soon  as  I 
came  to  the  house  he  related  how  great  his  exercises  had 
been  respecting  the  work.  One  day,  said  he,  I  thought  I 
would  go  down  to  my  stack  yard,  which  stood  some  distance 
2 


1796.1  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  33 

from  the  house,  and  there  pray  to  God  to  discover  the  re- 
ality of  it  to  me  ;  and  on  my  way  thither,  as  I  sat  on 
a  fence,  I  thought  I  saw  a  man  sitting  on  the  next  pannel ; 
I  got  off  and  went  down  to  the  stacks,  and  the  man  went 
with  me,  side  by  side,  and  when  I  kneeled  down  to  pray, 
the  man  stood  right  before  me.  I  prayed  until  my  shirt 
was  wet  on  my  back,  intreating*  God  that  he  would  give 
me  some  token,  whereby  I  might  know  whether  the  work 
was  of  him  or  not.  The  man  who  stood  before  me  said, 
Blessed  are  those  that  are  pure  in  heart.  I  then  arose  to 
see  whether  he  was  a  man  or  not,  and  went  to  put  my 
hand  upon  him,  and  he  said,  Touch  me  not !  I  then  turned 
myself  round  another  way,  and  he  stood  right  before  me 
again,  and  said  several  other  words  which  I  do  not  relate, 
and  then  vanished,  or  ascended,  as  in  a  flame  of  fire.  Now, 
said  I,  do  you  doubt  about  the  matter,  whether  the  work  is 
of  God  or  not  ?  No,  said  he,  I  have  no  doubts  about  it, 
for  God  has  sent  his  angel  to  confirm  me.  I  then  went 
and  preached, — the  Lord  was  present.  We  had  a  glorious 
time,  and  several  fell  to  the  floor  ;  we  had  a  precious 
time  also  in  class,  and  two  joined  society. 

"  Next  day  I  went  to  my  appointment,  and  found  a  large 
congregation.  I  preached,  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  at- 
tended the  word.  One  young  man  sprang  from  the  bench 
and  cried  aloud  for  mercy,  then  fell  on  his  knees  and  pray- 
ed fervently.  I  stopped  preaching,  and  when  he  was 
done,  I  went  to  prayer  with  him,  and  after  me  several 
others ;  many  wept,  some  cried  aloud  for  mercy,  and  others 
fell  to  the  floor.  When  I  dismissed  the  people  to  meet  class, 
I  invited  the  young  man  in.  Here  we  had  a  precious  sea- 
son among  the  dear  people  of  God,  and  some  mourners 
were  set  at  liberty."  ***** 

"I  went  home  with  brother  M,,  and  next  day  preached 
to  a  crowded  house,  with  liberty :   the  power  of  the  Lord 
arrested  a  young  Quaker,  and  he  fell  to  the  floor  as  if  he 
2^  2 


34  A    HISTORY    Of    THE  [1796 

had  been  shot :  his  mother  being  present,  cried  out,  My 
son  is  dead  !  My  son  is  dead  !  I  replied,  Mammy,  your 
son  is  not  dead ;  look  to  yourself,  mammy,  your  son  is  not 
dead ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  we  had  a  number  slain  be- 
fore the  Lord.  An  old  Quaker  man  stood  with  tears  in 
his  eyes  ;  I  said  to  him,  Daddy,  look  to  yourself ;  this 
was  the  way  with  you,  when  you  had  the  life  and  power 
of  God  among  you.  Read  Sewel's  History  of  the  people 
called  Quakers,  and  you  will  find  there  that  John  Aud- 
land,  a  young  man,  was  preaching  in  a  field  near  Bristol, 
and  the  people  fell  to  the  ground  before  him,  and  cried  out 
under  the  mighty  power  of  God.  The  man  of  the  house 
brought  the  book,  and  read  the  passage  before  the  congre- 
gation, and  he  then  acknowledged  it  to  be  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  I  attempted  to  meet  the  class,  but  did  not  speak  to 
above  two  or  three,  when  the  people  fell  before  the  Lord, 
as  men  slain  in  battle,  and  we  had  the  shout  of  a  king  in 
the  camp  of  Jesus  :  two  or  three  professed  that  God  had 
sanctified  their  souls.  The  young  Quaker  and  several 
others  professed  that  God  had  set  their  souls  at  liberty  ; 
several  joined  society,  and  we  had  ,a  precious  time. 
"When  I  went  on  that  circuit,  there  were  about  six  or 
seven  in  society  at  that  place,  and  when  I  left  it  there  were 
about  thirty-six,  six  or  seven  of  whom  had  been  Quakers. 
At  this  place,  our  meetings  were  generally  so  powerful 
that  I  never  regularly  met  the  class  during  the  time  I  was 
on  the  circuit — for  we  always  had  the  shout  of  a  king  in 
the  camp  of  Jesus — glory  to  God  !" 

These  instances  serve  to  show  the  power  and  au- 
thority by  which  Benjamin  Abbott  spoke  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  ;  and  though  there  might  have  been  some 
human  weakness  mingling  with  these  signal  displays 
of  the  power  of  God,  yet  it  is  manifest  thai  in  most 
2 


1796J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  35 

cases  ihe  work  was  genuine,  as  appeared  by  its 
fruits  ;   for  "  by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them." 

The  writer  of  his  life  gives  the  following  very 
affecting  account  of  an  incident  which  strikingly  ex- 
emplifies the  tenderness  of  his  conscience  and  the  hu- 
mility of  his  mind  : — ■ 

"  On  his  way  to  a  quarterly  meeting,  about  the  first  of 
February,  1795,  the  presiding  elder  mentioned  to  him, 
*  that  the  people  there  thought  he  had  power  by  faith  to 
open  or  shut  the  gates  of  heaven.'  Mr.  Abbott  said  to  me, 
when  conversing  on  this  subject,  '  It  went  through  my 
soul  like  a  dagger  :  I  was  grieved,  for  I  saw  that  the  idea 
led  to  idolatry,  in  ascribing  to  a  poor  mortal  the  power 
which  is  due  to  God  only,  I  felt  as  if  my  usefulness 
were  at  an  end  ;  although  I  did  not  discover  to   brother 

W ,  the  presiding  elder,  how  exceedingly  I  was  hurt, 

nor  was  he,  I  believe,  sensible  of  it.'  They  attended  the 
quarterly  meeting  in  great  harmony,  and  the  Master  of  as- 
semblies was  present  to  the  joy  and  consolation  of  many. 
At  night  Mr.  Abbott  was  taken  very  ill,  and  never  was 
able  to  attend  a  circuit  as  a  traveling  preacher,  or  scarcely 
ever  to  preach  afterward  ;  so  that  his  usefulness,  indeed, 
was,  in  one  sense,  at  an  end." 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Abbott  were  unremitting  and 
most  arduous,  so  that  it  may  be  said  he  literally 
wore  himself  out  in  the  service  of  his  divine  Master. 
The  last  public  service  he  performed  was  at  the 
funeral  of  Mrs.  Paul,  in  the  town  of  Salem,  N.  J.,  in 
the  month  of  April,  1796,  and  as  it  was  attended 
with  a  remarkable  incident,  evincing  the  blessed 
results  of  ministerial  faithfulness,  I  will  give  it  in  the 
words  of  the  biographer.      It  is  as  follows  : — 

"  After  the  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Mr.  Mor- 

2 


36  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796. 

ford,  he  arose  and  gave  an  exhortation,  and  particularly 
addressed  himself  to  Mr.  W.,  a  man  whom  he  had  loved  as 
himself,  and  who  had,  through  the  subtilty  of  Satan,  de- 
parted from  better  knowledge.  In  his  exhortation  he  call- 
ed to  mind  the  happy  hours  he  had  spent  under  his  roof ; 
how  much  he  (Mr.  W.)  had  done  for  the  cause  of  God ; 
and  how  often  they  had  rejoiced  together  as  fellow-labor- 
ers in  Christ  Jesus  ;  and  then  warned  him  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  of  his  impending  danger,  in  the  love  and 
fear  of  God,  until  tears  flowed,  his  strength  failed,  and  he 
was  unable  to  speak  any  longer. 

"  While  the  interment  of  the  corpse  took  place,  Mr.  Ab- 
bott retired  to  a  friend's  house,  unable  to  attend  it.  Aftei 
the  interment,  Mr.  W.  addressed  the  audience  on  the  occa- 
sion and  appeared  angry,  apprehending  that  he  had  been 
ill  used.  I  spoke  to  him  on  the  occasion,  and  endeavored 
to  reason  the  case  with  him  ;  but  to  very  little  purpose, 
for  he  apprehended  that  I  had  been  the  instigator  of  the 
supposed  affront,  and  appeared  as  much  offended  with  me 
as  with  Mr.  Abbott.  After  my  return  from  the  interment, 
I  went  and  informed  Mr.  Abbott  of  the  matter :  '  Why,' 
said  he,  '  if  I  were  able  to  take  my  horse  and  go  and  see 
him,  I  should  not  have  made  use  of  that  opportunity  ;  but 
as  I  am  not  able  to  go  and  see  him,  I  was  convinced  that 
if  I  let  that  opportunity  pass,  I  should  never  have  another  ; 
and  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  speak  as  I  did :  therefore  I 
leave  the  event  to  God.  I  am  sure  that  it  cannot  hurt 
him,  or  do  him  any  injury  ;  for  a  man  that  is  posting  in  the 
broad  way  to  damnation,  cannot  be  easily  worsted.  O!' 
said  he,  '  I  have  seen  the  time  that  we  have  rejoiced  to- 
gether as  fellow-laborers  in  Christ,  and  it  grieves  my  soul 
to  see  that  the  devil  has  got  the  advantage  of  him !' 
On  Mr.  W.'s  return  home,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Ab- 
bott on  the  occasion,  justifying  himself  and  his  conduct. 
However,  the  Spirit  of  God  fastened  it  on  him,  as  a  nail 
2 


1796.1  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  37 

in  a  sure  place  ;  for  at  our  first  quarterly  meeting  held  at 
Salem,  after  Mr.  Abbott's  death,  in  the  love  feast,  Mr.  W. 
arose  and  openly  declared  that  God  had  healed  all  his 
backslidings,  and  that  he  had  made  his  servant,  Father  Ab- 
bott, an  instrument  in  his  divine  hand  to  bring  about  his 
restoration." 

After  lingering  along  the  shores  of  time  for  several 
months,  he  finally  closed  his  life  in  triumph  on  the 
14th  day  of  August,  1796,  aged  about  sixty-four 
years.  The  following  is  an  account  of  the  closing 
scene  of  his  life  : — 

"  My  brother  went  to  see  him,  and  found  him  very 
poorly,  to  whom  he  said,  '  Brother  Ffirth,  I  am  going  to 
die,  and  to-morrow  you  must  go  to  Philadelphia,  for  bro- 
ther M'Claskey  to  come  and  preach  my  funeral  sermon:' 
to  which  my  brother  replied,  *  Father  Abbott,  you  may  con- 
tinue for  some  time  yet,  as  the  time  of  your  death  is  un- 
certain.' '  No,'  said  he,  *  I  shall  die  before  you  would  get 
back  from  Philadelphia,  unless  you  should  travel  in  the 
night.'  My  brother  replied,  '  It  will  not  answer  to  go  be- 
fore your  decease.'  '  Why,'  said  he,  '  I  shall  die,  and  I 
do  not  wish  my  body  kept  until  it  is  offensive  :  you  know 
the  weather  is  Avarm  and  the  distance  is  considerable.' 
'  That  is  true,'  replied  my  brother,  '  but  if  I  were  to  go  to 
Philadelphia  for  brother  M'Claskey,  to  preach  your  fune- 
ral sermon,  and  you  not  dead,  the  friends  would  laugh  at 
me,  and  he  would  not  come.'  '  Ah  !'  said  he,"'  it  may  be 
so  ;  I  never  thought  of  that ;  perhaps  it  will  be  best  to  stay 
until  I  am  dead.' 

"  Next  day,  observing  a  visible  alteration  in  him,  my 
brother  concluded  to  tarry  with  him  until  his  exit :  during 
the  day  he  continued  in  a  rack  of  excruciating  pain,  which 
he  bore  with  Christian  patience  and  resignation      He  w^as 

2 


38  A    HISTORY    OK    THE  [1796. 

happy  in  God,  and  rejoiced  at  his  approaching  dissolution  ; 
and  seemed  much  engaged  in  his  soul  with  God.  He  ap- 
peared to  possess  his  rational  faculties  to  his  last  moments  ; 
and  for  some  time  previous  thereunto  he  was  delivered 
from  that  excruciating  pain,  to  the  joy  of  his  friends  ;  his 
countenance  continued  joyful,  heavenly,  and  serene.  His 
last  sentence,  that  was  intelligibly  articulated,  was,  '  Glory 
to  God !  I  see  heaven  sweetly  opened  before  me  !' 

"  After  this,  his  speech  so  much  failed  that  he  could 
not  be  distinctly  understood,  only  now  and  then  a  word, 
as,  '  See  ! — see  ! — glory  ! — glory  /'  Asc." 

Mr.  Abbott  was,  in  many  respects,  a  remarkable 
man  ;  not,  indeed,  on  account  of  his  intellectual  or 
literary. attainments,  for  he  was  extremely  illiterate, 
and  of  very  limited  information.  Were  we,  therefore, 
to  measure  his  standard  of  excellence  as  a  preacher 
by  the  usual  rules  by  which  it  is  determined,  he 
would  sink  perhaps  below  mediocrity  ;  for  such  was 
his  deficiency  in  respect  to  his  knowledge  even  of  his 
vernacular  tongue  that  he  could  scarcely  express 
himself  grammatically  on  any  subject ;  yet  with  all 
these  defects,  he  had  drunk  so  deeply  at  the  fountain 
of  spiritual  life,  had  made  himself  so  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  had  such  an 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  human  heart,  and  was, 
moreover,  so  deeply  impressed  by  the  Holy  Spirit  that 
it  was  his  duty  to  call  sinners  to  repentance,  that  when- 
ever he  spoke  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  there  was  an 
"  unction  from  the  Holy  One"  attending  his  word, 
which  made  it  manifest  to  all  that  he  was  sent  from 
heaven  to  beseech  mankind  to  be  reconciled  to  God. 

Though  a  Boanerges  or  son  of  thunder  in  the 
pulpit,  especially  in  his  appeals  to  the  impenitent,  yet 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  39 

in  private  circles,  in  conversation  with  his  friends,  and 
in  his  addresses  to  mourning  penitents,  he  was  all 
love  and  meekness,  manifesting  the  simplicity  and 
docility  of  a  child.  But  that  which  distinguished  him 
most  eminently  among  his  fellows  was  the  power 
which  he  seemed  to  have  with  God  in  prayer.  Per- 
haps he  seldom  entered  the  pulpit,  or  appeared  be- 
fore a  congregation  as  God's  messenger,  without  pre- 
viously "  wrestling  in  the  strength  of  mighty  prayer," 
and  God  did  indeed  "  reward  him  openly."  Many 
were  the  instances  in  which  his  heavenly  Father  an- 
swered his  "  strong  cries  and  tears,"  while  pouring 
out  the  desire  of  his  heart  before  him  in  prayer. 
And  let  it  be  recollected  that  such  prayer,  which 
lakes  hold  on  God,  always  supposes  the  exercise  of 
strong  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  that  faith  which  says,  "  I 
will  not  let  thee  go  unless  thou  bless  me." 

Such  was  Benjamin  Abbott.  And  though  we  can- 
not enroll  him  among  those  who  have  distinguished 
themselves  by  scientific  research,  or  deep  theological 
knowledge,  yet  we  may  inscribe  upon  his  tombstone, 
Here  lies  the  man  whom  God  delighted  to  honor  as 
the  instrument  of  saving  m-any  sinners  from  the  error 
of  their  ways.  Through  his  energetic  labors  an  im- 
pulse was  given  to  the  work  of  God  in  this  country 
which  has  been  felt  through  all  our  borders  from  that 
day  to  this  ;  and  hence  his  name  may  be  fitly  asso- 
ciated with  those  who  were  honored  of  God  in  build- 
ing up  our  Zion  as  on  a  hill,  from  which  light  has 
been  reflected  on  thousands  who  have  been  brought 
under  its  holy  and  happy  influence. 

Another  distinguished,  though  humble  and  unpre- 
tending servant  of  God  was  taken  this  year  from  the 

2 


40  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796. 

militant  to  the  church  triumphant.  Francis  Acuff. 
born  in  Virginia,  and  brought  up  in  Tennessee,  has  left 
a  name  in  the  west  which  will  be  remembered  with 
grateful  recollections  while  Methodism  shall  continue 
to  live  and  flourish  in  that  country.  He  resided  in 
Holstein,  Tennessee  ;  arid  though  only  three  years  in 
the  traveling  ministry,  yet  such  were  his  talents  and 
indefatigable  labors  in  the  work,  that  he  won  the  con- 
fidence and  affection  of  the  people  for  whose  salva- 
tion he  devoted  his  strength  ;  they  lamented  over  his 
.untimely  grave  as  over  the  remains  of  a  departed 
friend.  He  had  only  attained  to  the  twenty-fifth 
year  of  his  age  when  he  was  cut  down  as  a  flower, 
in  the  morning,  and  taken  to  ripen  in  the  paradise  of 
God. 

As  an  instance  of  the  strong  attachment  which  was 
felt  by  those  who  were  best  acquainted  with  this  man 
of  God,  I  will  give  the  following  anecdote  on  the  au- 
thority of  the  author  of  "  Short  Sketches  of  Revivals  of 
Religion  in  the  Western  Country."  An  Englishman  by 
the  name  of  William  Jones,  on  his  arrival  in  Virginia,  was 
sold  for  his  passage.  He  served  his  time,  four  years, 
with  fidelity,  conducted  himself  with  propriety,  and 
was  finally  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  by 
.means  of  Methodist  preaching.  As  he  had  been 
greatly  blessed  under  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Acuff, 
when  he  heard  of  his  death,  Billy,  as  he  was  called, 
determined  to  visit  his  grave.  Though  he  had  to 
travel  a  longdistance  through  the  wilderness,  in  which 
he  had  heard  that  the  Indians  often  killed  people  by 
the  way,  yet  his  great  desire  to  visit  the  grave  of  his 
friend  and  pastor  impelled  him  forward,  believing  that 
the  Lord  in  whom  he  trusted  was  able  to  protect  him 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  41 

from  savage  cruelty,  and  provide  for  his  vs^ants.  <'  When 
I  came  to  the  rivers,"  said  he,  "  I  would  wade  them, 
or  if  there  were  ferries  they  would  take  me  over,  and 
when  I  was  hungry  the  travelers  would  give  me  a 
morsel  of  bread.  When  I  came  to  Mr.  Greene's,  in 
Madison  county,  I  inquired  for  our  dear  brother  Acuff 's 
grave.  The  people  looked  astonished,  but  directed 
me  to  it.  I  went  to  it,  felt  my  soul  happy,  kneeled 
down,  shouted  over  it,  and  praised  the  Lord  !"  Such 
a  mark  of  strong  affection  in  a  simple  follower  of  Je- 
sus Christ  speaks  volumes  in  favor  of  the  man  over 
whose  grave  those  grateful  recollections  were  so 
piously  indulged. 

Another  of  the  veterans  who  fell  in  the  field  this 
year  deserves  a  passing  notice.  Reuben  Ellis  had 
traveled  extensively,  and  preached  with  great  accept- 
ance for  about  twenty  years.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  a  man  of  rather  a  slow  apprehension,  but  of  a 
sound  understanding,  possessed  of  godly  simplicity 
and  sincerity,  and  that  his  preaching  was  weighty  and 
powerful.  In  his  life  he  manifested  great  deadness  to 
the  world,  living  as  in  the  immediate  view  of  eternity. 
He  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  in  the  notice 
of  his  death  it  is  stated  that  the  people  of  the  south 
"well  knew  his  excellent  worth,  as  a  Christian  and  a 
minister  of  Christ." 

After  laboring  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
leaving  behind  him  evidences  of  his  fidelity  and  deep 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  God,  he  closed  his  use- 
ful labors  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  in  the  month  of 
February,  1796,  in  the  full  hope  of  everlasting  life. 
Some  estimate  may  be  formed  of  the  high  character  he 
sustained  by  the  fact,  that  the   record  of  his  death 

2 


42  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796 

says,  "  It  is  a  doubt  whether  there  be  one  left  in  all 
the  connection  higher,  if  equal,  in  standing,  piety,  or 
usefulness." 

Jacob  Brush,  Stephen  Davis,  William  Jessup, 
Richard  Ivy,  John  Jarrell,  and  Zadoc  Priest,  of 
whom  honorable  mention  is  made,  all  died  this  year 
in  the  full  hope  of  immortality  and  eternal   life. 

In  the  early  part  of  our  history  we  have  seen  the 
kindness  manifested  to  Mr.  Asbury  by  Judge  White 
of  Kent  county,  Delaware  state,  during  his  seclusion 
from  the  fury  of  his  persecutors.  It  is  pleasant  to 
reflect  on  the  latter  end  of  such  men,  and  to  see  how 
the  Lord  rewarded  them  for  their  attentions  to  his 
servants.  Last  year  Judge  White  died  "  in  the  Lord," 
and  though  he  was  not  a  preacher,  the  death  of  such 
a  man  is  deserving  a  place  in  this  record  of  the 
Lord's  dealings  with  his  church.  The  following  is 
Bishop  Asbury's  account  of  the  character  and  death 
of  this  good  man  : — 

"This  day,"  May  21,  1795,  "  I  heard  of  the  death  of 
one  among  my  best  friends  in  America,  Judge  White,  of 
Kent  county,  Delaware.  This  news  was  attended  with  an 
awful  shock  to  me.  I  have  met  with  nothing  like  it  in 
the  death  of  any  friend  on  the  continent.  Lord  help  us  to 
live  our  short  day  to  thy  glory  !  I  have  lived  days,  weeks, 
and  months,  in  his  house.  O  that  his  removal  may  be 
sanctified  to  my  good,  and  the  good  of  the  family !  He 
was  about  sixty-five  years  of  age.  He  was  a  friend  to  the 
poor  and  oppressed.  He  had  been  a  professed  Church- 
man, and  was  united  to  the  Methodist  connection  about 
seventeen  or  eighteen  years.  His  house  and  heart  were 
always  open  ;  and  he  was  a  faithful  friend  to  liberty  in 
spirit  and  in  practice  ;  he  was  a  most  indulgent  husband, 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  43 

a  tender  father,  and  an  affectionate  friend.     He  professed 
perfect  love  and  great  peace,  living  and  dying." 

Such  a  testimony  is  alike  honorable  to  him  who 
made  it,  and  to  him  in  whose  favor  it  w^as  recorded, 
showing  the  gratitude  and  affectionate  remembrance 
of  the  one,  and  the  disinterested  friendship  and  fidelity 
of  the  other. 


Last  year, 
This  year. 

Numbers  in  the  Church, 

Whites.              Colored.              Total. 

48,121         12,170        60,291 
45,384         11,280         56,664 

Preachers, 

313 

293 

Decrease,         2,737  890  3,627  20 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  there  had  been  a  di- 
minution of  numbers  now  for  three  years  past.  This 
is  said  to  have  been  owing  chiefly  to  the  spirit  of  dis- 
satisfaction which  had  been  spread  abroad  by  the 
controversy  of  O'Kelly  and  his  party.  Such  are  the 
pernicious  effects  of  divisions  of  this  character  upon 
the  interests  of  true  religion. 


CHAPTER  11. 

An  Account  of  the  General  Conference  of  1796. 

This  conference  assembled  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, October  20th,  1796,  and  was  composed  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  members.  As  there  were  no 
restrictions  upon  the  powers  of  the  conference  at  that 
time,  thev  felt  themselves  at  liberty  to  review   our 

2 


44  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796. 

entire  economy,  and  to  nnakc  such  alterations  and  addi- 
tions to  the  Discipline  as  they  might  consider  would  best 
promote  the  interests  of  the  Church.  Up  to  tliis  time 
the  bishops  had  a  discretionary  power  to  appoint  as 
many  annual  conferences  as  they  might  judge  would 
be  most  for  the  convenience  of  the  preachers  and 
people  ;  but  this  conference  fixed  their  bounds,  and 
determined  that  their  number  should  be  but  six, 
with  a  proviso  that,  if  the  bishop  saw  proper,  they 
might  form  an  additional  one  in  the  province  of  Maine. 
We  have  already  seen  that  the  strength  of  the 
itinerating  ministry  was  very  much  weakened,  from 
year  to  year,  by  reason  of  the  numerous  locations 
which  took  place  at  the  several  animal  conferences. 
This  originated,  in  part  at  least,  from  the  inadequate 
support  which  was  provided  for  the  preachers  and 
their  families,  especially  in  the  new  settlements.  The 
hardships  to  which  they  were  exposed  in  traversing 
the  wilderness,  their  scanty  fare,  and  the  excessive 
labors  they  were  obliged  to  perform,  brought  on  many 
of  them  premature  old  age,  and  in  many  instances 
they  contracted  those  diseases  which  terminated  in 
death.  By  these  means,  while  some  were  doomed  to 
linger  on  in  feebleness  and  poverty,  others  were  called 
to  leave  their  widows  and  orphan  children,  to  suffer 
from  the  privations  brought  upon  them  by  the  sacri- 
fices of  tlicir  devoted  husbands  and  parents.  With 
such  prospects  before  them,  many,  as  before  stated, 
were  induced  to  forsake  the  itinerant  field,  in  the  hope 
of  providing  more  adequately  for  themselves  and 
families,  while  it  may  be  presumed  that  some  were 
actuated  more  from  mercenary  motives  than  merely 
from  a  fear  of  temporal  want. 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  45 

To  remedy  an  evil  of  such  magnitude,  and  lake 
away,  as  far  as  possible,  all  temptations  to  forsake  the 
work  of  spreading  the  gospel  by  an  itinerant  ministry, 
many  of  the  most  devoted  friends  of  the  cause  had 
looked  with  anxious  hearts  for  some  suitable  means. 
The  subject  came  up  for  consideration  before  this 
General  Conference,  and  they  finally  resolved  to 
create  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  necessitous  preachers, 
their  wives,  widows,  and  orphans.  This  was  soon 
after  incorporated  by  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania, 
under  the  following 

"articles  of  association 

Of  the  Trustees  of  the  Fund  for  the  Relief  and  Support  oj 
the  itinerant,  supera?inuated,  and  worn-out  Ministers  and 
Preachers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  of  America  their  Wives  and  Children,  Widows 
and  Orpfians. 

"Art.  1. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  the  name, 
style,  and  title  of  this  corporation  shall  be,  *  The  Trustees 
of  the  Fund  for  the  Relief  and  Support  of  the  itinerant,  su- 
perannuated, and  worn-out  Ministers  and  Preachers  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  (in  the  United  States  of 
America,)  their  Wives  and  Children,  Widows  and  Orphans ;' 
and  that  the  said  trustees  shall  consist  of  John  Dickins, 
Thomas  Haskins,  Jacob  Baker,  Henry  Manly,  Burton 
Wallace,  Josiah  Lusby,  Hugh  Smith,  Caleb  North,  and 
Cornelius  Comeg}^s,  and  their  successors,  qualified  and 
appointed  as  is  hereinafter  mentioned.  And  they  are 
hereby  vested  with  full  powers  for  carrying  into  effect  the 
benevolent  and  charitable  purposes  in  this  instrument 
mentioned  and  declared. 

"  Art.  2. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  the  said  trus- 
tees, and  their  successors,  by  the  name,  style,  and  title 

2 


46  A    HISTORY    OP    THE  [1796. 

aforesaid,  shall  be  able  and  capable  in  law  to  take,  receive, 
have,  hold,  possess,  and  enjoy,  all,  and  all  manner 
of  lands,  tenements,  rents,  annuities,  franchises,  and  here- 
ditaments, and  any  sum  or  sums  of  money,  and  any  man- 
nei^  and  portion  of  goods  and  chattels,  given,  granted,  or 
devised  unto  them  or  their  successors,  by  any  person  or 
persons,  bodies  politic  or  corporate,  agreeable  to  the  inten- 
tion of  the  donors  respectively,  and  according  to  the  ob- 
jects, articles,  and  conditions,  in  this  instrument  mentioned 
and  declared  ;  and  by  the  name,  style,  and  title  aforesaid, 
shall  be  able  and  capable  in  law,  to  sue  and  be  sued, 
plead  and  be  impleaded,  in  any  court  or  courts,  before  any 
judge  or  judges,  justice  or  justices,  in  all  manner  of  suits, 
complaints,  pleas,  causes,  matters,  and  demands  whatso 
ever,  and  all  and  every  matter  therein  to  do,  in  as  full  and 
effectual  a  manner  as  any  other  person  or  persons,  bodies 
politic  and  corporate,  within  this  commonwealth  may  or 
can  do. 

"  Art.  3. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  in  case  of 
the  death,  resignation,  or  expulsion  from  membership  (ac- 
cording to  the  rules  and  discipline  from  time  to  time 
adopted  by  the  itinerant  ministers  and  preachers  of  the 
said  Church,  in  their  General  Conference  assembled)  of  any 
one  or  more  of  the  members  of  the  said  corporation,  or 
their  successors,  then,  and  in  such  case,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  remaining  trustees  to  nominate  double  the  number  of 
those  whose  seats  may  have  been  vacated  as  aforesaid, 
and  to  make  a  representation  thereof,  in  writing,  to  the 
itinerant  ministers  and  preachers  of  the  said  Church  in 
their  next  General  Conference  assembled  ;  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  then  and  there  to  proceed  to  choose,  and,  by  a 
majority  of  votes,  appoint  one  or  more  persons  (as  the 
case  may  be)  out  of  the  whole  number  of  those  nominated 
by  the  trustees,  as  aforesaid,  to  fill  such  vacancy  or  vacan- 
cies, in  order  to  keep  up  the  number  of  nine  trustees  for 
2 


i796J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  47 

ever  :  and  upon  every  such  choice  and  appointment  a  cer- 
tificate shall  issue  from  the  said  General  Conference  signed 
by  their  president  and  countersigned  by  their  secretary, 
and  directed  to  the  trustees  of  the  said  corporation,  con- 
taining the  name  or  names  of  the  person  or  persons  so 
chosen  and  appointed,  which  said  certificate  shall  be  regis- 
tered in  the  books  of  the  said  corporation  ;  and  the  person 
or  persons  thus  chosen  and  appointed  shall  be  vested  with 
all  the  powers  and  immunities  of  a  member  of  the  said 
corporation — provided,  nevertheless,  that  no  person  or  per- 
sons shall  be  eligible  as  a  trustee  or  trustees  of  the  said 
corporation  who  has  not  been  a  member  of  the  said  Church 
(according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  thereof,  as  aforesaid) 
at  least  five  years  next  preceding  his  or  their  election  and 
appointment  as  aforesaid,  and  who  shall  not  be  at  least 
twenty-five  years  of  age. 

"  Art.  4. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  the  said  cor- 
poration shall  meet  at  least  once  in  every  year  (for  the  de- 
spatch of  their  necessary  business)  at  such  time  and  place 
as  a  majority  of  them  may  judge  most  convenient  and  pro- 
per :  and  when  so  met  they  shall  have  power  to  make  such 
by-laws,  rules,  and  regulations  for  their  government,  in  the 
management  of  their  aftairs,  as  a  majority  of  them  may  judge 
necessary  ;  and  also  at  every  such  annual  meeting  they 
shall  proceed  to  choose,  and  by  a  majority  of  votes  appoint 
two  of  their  own  number  to  act,  the  one  as  president,  and 
the  other  as  secretary,  to  the  said  corporation,  who  may 
continue  them  in  office  from  year  to  year,  as  a  majority  of 
the  said  corporation  may  think  proper. 

"  Art.  5. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  if,  at  any 
time  hereafter,  a  majority  of  the  trustees  should  deem  it 
expedient,  by  deed  or  otherwise,  to  grant,  bargain,  sell, 
convey,  or  otherwise  dispose  of  any  part  or  parcel  of  the 
estate,  real  or  personal,  of,  and  belonging  to,  the  said  cor- 
poration, or   charge  or  incumber  tire   same,  then,  and  in 

2 


48  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [179G. 

such  case,  it  shall  be  their  duty  to  make  a  representation 
thereof  in  writing  to  the  itinerant  ministers  and  preachers 
of  the  said  Church,  in  their  next  General  Conference  as- 
sembled, who  shall  then  and  there  judge  of  the  necessity 
or  expediency  of  such  proposed  sale  ;  and  if  two-thirds  of 
the  ministers  and  preachers,  assembled  as  aforesaid,  shall 
consent  and  agree  thereto,  a  certificate  shall  issue  from  the 
said  General  Conference,  signed  by  their  president  and 
countersigned  by  their  secretar}'',  declaring  such  approba- 
tion and  consent,  and  specifying  the  kind  and  amount  of 
the  property  to  be  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of ;  which 
certificate  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  said  trustees,  who 
shall  cause  the  same  to  be  recorded  in  the  books  of  the  said 
corporation — provided,  always,  that  the  moneys  arising 
from  such  licensed  sale  shall  be  vested  by  the  said  trus- 
tees (as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be)  in  such  other  secu- 
rities and  property  as,  in  the  judgment  of  a  majority  of 
them,  will  be  most  productive  and  safe  ;  and  provided 
farther,  that  the  annual  interest  and  income,  arising  from 
the  money  so  vested,  shall  be  exclusively  applied  in  the 
manner  and  for  the  uses  and  purposes  in  this  instrument 
mentioned  and  declared. 

"  Art.  6. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  the  annual 
rents,  interest,  and  income  of  the  estate,  real  and  personal, 
Avhich  now  does,  or  at  any  time  hereafter  may  belong  to 
the  said  corporation  and  their  successors,  shall  by  them  be 
held  subject  to  the  exclusive  order  and  control  of  the  itine- 
rant ministers  and  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  their  General 
Conference  (from  time  to  time)  assembled:  and  the  said 
ministers  and  preachers,  thus  assembled,  are  hereby  vest- 
ed with  full  powers  to  appropriate  and  point  out  the  mode 
of  applying  the  same  to  the  objects,  under  the  limitations, 
and  for  the  uses  and  purposes  herein  mentioned  and 
expressly  declared. 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  49 

"  Art.  7. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  the  object 
and  design  of  the  fund  hereby  intended  to  be  estabhshed 
is  expressly  for  the  purposes  of  relieving  the  distresses, 
and  supplying  the  deficiencies  of  the  itinerant  and  super- 
annuated or  worn-out  ministers  and  preachers  of  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America 
who  remain  in  connection  with,  and  continue  subject  to,  the 
order  and  control  of,  the  General  Conference  ;  as  also  for 
the  relief  of  the  wives  and  children,  widows  and  orphans, 
of  such  ministers  and  preachers,  and  for  no  other  use, 
intent,  or  purpose  whatever. 

"  Art.  8. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  no  sum  ex- 
ceeding sixty-four  dollars  shall  in  any  one  year  be  appro- 
priated and  applied  to  the  use  of  an  itinerant,  superannu- 
ated, or  worn-out  single  minister  or  preacher  ;  also  that  no 
sum  exceeding  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  dollars,  in 
any  one  year,  shall  be  applied  to  the  use  of  an  itinerant, 
superannuated,  or  worn-out  married  minister  or  preacher ; 
and  that  no  sum  exceeding  sixty-four  dollars,  in  any  one 
year,  shall  be  applied  to  the  use  of  each  widow  of  such 
ministers  and  preachers  as  are  herein  before  mentioned 
and  described ;  and  also  that  no  sum  exceeding  sixteen 
dollars  shall  be  applied,  in  any  one  year,  to  the  use  of  each 
child  or  orphan,  of  such  ministers  and  preachers  as  are 
herein  before  particularly  mentioned  and  described. 

"  Art.  9. — It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  no  sum  or 
sums  of  money,  under  any  pretence  whatever,  shall  be 
drawn  from  the  fund  hereby  intended  to  be  established, 
other  than  for  the  uses  and  purposes,  and  under  the  limi- 
tations and  restrictions,  herein  before  expressly  mentioned 
and  declared — provided,  nevertheless,  that  the  trustees  of 
the  said  corporation  and  their  successors  shall  have  power 
to  draw  and  apply,  from  time  to  time,  so  much  money  be- 
longing to  the  said  fund  as  in  the  judgment  of  a  majority  of 

Vol.  II.— 3 


50  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796 

them  may  be  wanting  to  defray  all  the  necessary  expenses 
of  conducting  the  business  of  the  said  corporation. 

"  Art.  10.— It  is  provided  and  declared,  that  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  trustees  to  cause  regular  and  fair  accounts 
to  be  kept  (in  books  to  be  provided  for  that  purpose)  of  the 
funds  of  the  said  corporation,  as  well  as  it  respects  the  kind 
and  amount  of  the  capital  stock,  and  of  the  annual  interest  and 
income  thereof,  as  of  all  and  every  sum  or  sums  of  money 
which  shall  from  time  to  time  be  drawn  therefrom,  for  the 
objects,  under  the  limitations,  and  for  the  uses  and  purposes 
herein  before  particularly  mentioned  and  declared.  And 
farther,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  trustees  and  their 
successors,  at  every  General  Conference  of  the  preachers 
as  aforesaid,  to  prepare  and  lay  before  them  a  statement 
of  the  affairs  of  the  said  fund,  for  their  inspection  and  exa- 
mination ;  which  said  statement  shall  be  signed  by  the 
president  and  countersigned  by  the  secretary  of  the  said 
corporation,  certifying  that  the  same  is  fair  and  correct." 

It  was  provided,  by  a  resolution  of  the  General 
Conference,  that  the  objects  of  this  fund  should  be 
presented  in  an  address  to  our  brethren  and  friends, 
and  that  they  should  be  invited  to  fill  it  up  by  volun- 
tary contributions,  donations,  and  bequests.  This 
was  accordingly  done,  and  some  subscribed  liberally, 
while  others  stood  aloof  from  it,  thinking  it  most  ad- 
visable to  let  the  funds  remain  in  the  hands  of  the 
people,  to  be  drawn  out  as  they  might  be  needed. 
Though  the  creation  of  the  chartered  fund  originated 
from  the  purest  motives,  and  has  been  kept  up  and 
superintended  by  some  of  the  most  benevolent  spirits 
in  the  Church,  yet  it  has  never  been  able  to  pay  more 
than  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  dollars  a  year  to 
each  annual  conference  ;  and  as  this  small  amount 
2 


1796.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  51 

would  not,  when  divided  among  the  several  claim- 
ants, give  to  each  but  about  two  dollars  a  year,  it  may- 
be questioned  whether,  by  inducing  a  false  depend- 
ence in  the  public  mind,  this  fund  has  not  defeated 
the  objects  of  its  institution,  and  disappointed  the  ex- 
pectations of  its  benevolent  founders  and  patrons.  It 
has  continued,  however,  in  existence,  has  gradually 
increased  in  its  resources,  and  its  avails  are  scrupu- 
lously applied  according  to  the  provisions  of  its  char- 
ter, and  hence  for  the  good  it  has  done  we  have  rea- 
son to  be  thankful,  and  especially  to  those  generous 
men  who  have,  from  time  to  time,  gratuitously  su- 
perintended its  affairs,  and  impartially  distributed  its 
avails. 

At  this  conference,  with  a  view  to  secure  church 
property  permanently  to  the  use  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  according  to  the  true  intent  and 
meaning  of  the  donors  and  contributors,  with  as  little 
expense  as  possible,  the  form  of  a  deed  of  settlement 
was  drawn  up  and  inserted  in  the  Discipline.  The 
provisions  of  the  Discipline,  however,  in  respect  to 
this  deed,  have  been  modified  from  time  to  time,  so  as  to 
conform  to  the  usages  of  law  in  the  several  states  and 
territories,  merely  requiring  deeds  of  trust  to  be  so 
drawn  as  to  "  secure  the  premises  firmly  and  perma- 
nently to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,"  to  be 
held  in  trust  by  a  board  of  trustees — elected  by  the 
people  where  the  laws  of  the  states  respectively  so 
require,  y-  where  no  such  laws  exist,  they  are  to  be 
appointed  by  the  preacher  in  charge,  or  by  the  presid- 
ing elder  of  the  district — for  the  use  of  the  members 
of  said  church  in  the  place  where  the  property  is 
located.     See  Dis.,  part  ii,  sec.  2. 

2 


52  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1796 

As  many  have  affirmed  that  all  church  property  is 
owned  by  the  annual  conferences,  it  may  be  proper  lo 
remark,  that  they  have  no  legal  claim  to  the  property, 
nor  have  they  sought,  nor  do  they  seek,  any  other  con- 
trol over  it  than  to  be  permitted  "  to  preach  and  ex 
pound  God's  word"  in  the  churches,  and  to  administer 
the  discipline  and  ordinances  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ.  As  to  the  property  itself,  it  is  vested  in  a 
board  of  trustees,  elected  according  to  the  provisions 
of  law,  where  such  law  exists,  who  are  held  respon- 
sible as  Methodists  to  the  quarterly  meeting  confer- 
ence of  their  circuit  for  the  manner  in  which  they  dis- 
charge their  trusts  ;  while  the  conferences  claim  the 
right  of  using  the  houses  of  worship,  in  conformity  to 
the  object  for  which  they  were  erected,  for  religious 
and  spiritual  purposes  only,  according  to  the  requisi- 
tions of  the  doctrines  and  Discipline  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  It  is  true,  the  trustees  are  not 
permitted  to  ahenate  the  property  for  other  purposes 
than  those  for  which  it  was  procured,  nor  are  they 
permitted  to  exclude  from  the  pulpits  those  ministers 
who  are  regularly  sent  to  them  according  to  the  regu- 
lations of  the  Church  to  which  they  belong.  And  is 
not  this  as  it  should  be  ?  Should  not  church  property 
be  held  sacredly  for  the  sole  purposes  to  which  it  has 
been  devoted,  and  which  were  specified  in  the  deed  of 
settlement  when  it  was  enfeoffed  to  the  church  ? 

These  remarks  have  been  called  for  by  the  oft- 
repeated  and  oft-refuted  slander,  that  the  Methodist 
bishops  and  conferences  are  the  legal  owners  of  the 
houses  of  worship  which  are  occupied  within  our 
bounds.  The  property  belongs  to  the  members  of  the 
church  worshiping  in  that  place,  and  they  have  com- 
2 


1796.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  53 

mitted  it  to  trustees,  generally  of  their  own  choosing, 
for  safe  keeping,  that  it  may  be  used  for  the  exclusive 
purpose  for  which  it  was  procured,  namely,  to  be  de- 
voted in  perpetuity  to  the  interests  of  true  religion, 
as  now  taught,  explained,  and  enforced  by  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church. 

We  have  already  seen  that  our  economy  recognizes 
a  class  of  laborers  denominated  local  preachers,  who 
attend  to  secular  concerns  for  a  livelihood,  and 
preach  occasionally  without  fee  or  reward,  as  their  dis- 
positions and  circumstances  will  allow.  The  number 
of  these  had  become  considerably  increased  in  conse- 
quence of  the  numerous  locations  before  noticed,  as 
well  by  licensing  those  who  were  thought  to  pos- 
sess gifts  and  grace  for  usefulness  in  the  Church. 
This  useful  class  of  men  were  often  called  upon  to 
assist  the  traveling  preachers  in  their  work,  to  fill  va- 
cancies occasioned  by  sickness  or  death,  in  addition  to 
their  regular  appointments  on  the  Sabbath.  In  con- 
sequence of  these  things,  the  present  General  Confer- 
ence made  the  following  provisions  respecting  a  local 
preacher : — 

1.  He  must  receive  a  license,  after  being  examined 
and  approved,  from  the  quarterly  meeting  conference, 
provided  he  be  recommended  by  the  class  to  which  he 
belongs. 

2.  After  improving  his  gifts  acceptably  for  four 
years,  by  being  suitably  recommended  to  an  annual 
conference,  he  was  to  be  ehgible  to  the  office  of  a 
deacon.  ' 

3.  Whenever  a  local  preacher  filled  the  place  of 
a  traveling  preacher,  if  the  latter  were  unable  from 
sickness  or  other  unavoidable  means  to  fill  his  own 

2 


54  A  HiSTORV  Oh'   THE  [1796. 

appointments,  he  was  to  be  allowed  a  sum  in  proportion 
to  the  allowance  of  the  traveling  preacher,  to  be  raised 
by  the  circuit ;  or  if  the  traveling  preacher  were  ab- 
sent from  other  causes,  his  substitute  was  to  be  paid 
out  of  his  allowance. 

4.  But  if  the  local  preacher  were  distressed  in  his 
circumstances,  in  consequence  of  his  services  in  the 
Church,  by  applying  to  the  quarterly  conference,  he 
might  receive  such  relief  as  they  might  see  proper  to 
afford  him,  after  the  allowance  of  the  traveling  preach- 
ers and  their  families  were  paid. 

5.  A  rule  was  made  for  the  trial  of  a  local  preacher 
before  his  peers,  differing  but  little  from  the  one  now 
in  existence,  which,  as  the  regulations  respecting 
them  have  been  modified  from  time  to  time,  I  shall 
notice  more  particularly  in  another  place.  Before 
this  rule  was  passed,  local  preachers  had  been  tried 
before  the  society  to  which  they  belonged,  the  same 
as  if  they  were  but  private  members.  Since  this 
period,  however,  they  have  been  amenable  either  to 
those  of  their  own  grade  in  the  ministry  or  to  the 
quarterly  meeting  conference. 

The  following  rule  respecting  the  use  and  sale  of 
spiritous  liquors  was  made,  and  still  continues,  unhap- 
pily, the  standing  regulation  on  this  subject: — 

"  If  any  member  of  our  society  retail  or  give  spiritous 
liquors,  and  any  thing  disorderly  be  transacted  under  his 
roof  on  this  account,  the  preacher  who  has  the  oversight 
of  the  circuit  shall  proceed  against  him  as  in  the  case  of 
other  immoralities  ;  and  the  person  accused  shall  be  clear- 
ed, suspended,  or  excluded,  according  to  his  conduct,  as 
on  other  charges  of  immorality." 

By  turning  to  the  form  of  Discipline  published  in 


1796.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  56 

1789,  which  is  said  lo  be  the Jifth  edition,  we  find  the 
following  item  in  the  General  Jlules  : — 

"  Drunkenness,  buying  or  selling  spirituous  liquors, 
or  drinking  them.^^ 

This  was  an  alteration  from  the  rule  of  Mr.  Wes- 
ley, as  that  allowed  the  use  of  them  in  cases  of 
**  extreme  necessity, ^^ — whereas  this  prohibits  all  use 
of  them,  as  a  drink,  and  even  forbids  the  "  buying  or 
selling^"*  them  under  any  circumstances.  At  what 
time  or  by  whose  influence  the  rule  was  so  altered  as 
to  read  as  it  now  stands  in  the  Discipline,  I  have  not 
been  able  to  ascertain,  but  presume  it  must  have 
been  some  time  prior  to  the  year  1796,  as  it  seems 
the  pernicious  custom  of  retailing  them  had  become 
so  offensive  at  this  time  as  to  require  a  special  enact- 
ment of  the  General  Conference  to  check  the  unhal- 
lowed practice  ;  for  when  people  begin  to  make  laws 
with  a  view  to  regulate  any  particular  practice,  it  is 
an  evidence  that  the  practice  itself  is,  in  some  sense, 
sanctioned.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  time  is  not  far 
distant  when  the  entire  use  of  spirituous  liquors  shall 
be  banished  from  the  world,  but  more  especially 
from  the  church  of  God  :  and  that  to  traffic  in  them, 
by  either  manufacturing,  buying  or  selling  them,  shall 
be  considered  as  dishonorable,  as  it  is  now  to  become 
inebriated  by  their  excessive  use. 

In  consequence  of  the  extension  of  the  work,  the  fre- 
quent interruptions  in  the  health  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and 
the  long  absence  of  Dr.  Coke  from  the  continent  every 
year,  it  was  considered  expedient  by  many  members  to 
elect  and  consecrate  some  person  as  an  assistant  bishop. 
After  consulting  each  other  in  reference  to  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  person  should  be  elected,  Dr.  Coke 

2 


56  A   HISTORY   or   THE  [1796. 

put  an  end  to  llie  discussion  by  offering  himself  unre- 
servedly to  the  American  Methodists.  This  offer  was 
accepted  by  the  conference,  and  Dr.  Coke  gave  them 
the  following  certificate  in  writing  : — 

"  I  offer  myself  to  my  American  brethren  entirely  to 
their  service,  all  I  am  and  have,  with  my  talents  and  labors 
in  every  respect,  without  any  mental  reservation  whatever, 
to  labor  among  them  and  to  assist  Bishop  Asbury  ;  not  to 
station  the  preachers  at  any  time  when  he  is  present ;  but 
to  exercise  all  the  episcopal  duties,  when  I  hold  a  confer- 
ence in  his  absence,  and  by  his  consent,  and  to  visit  the 
West  Indies  and  France,  when  there  is  an  opening  and  I 
can  be  spared.     Signed,  Thomas  Coke." 

"  Conference  Room,  Baltimore,  Oct.  27,   1796." 

This  instrument  was  given  and  accepted  in  good 
faith,  and  the  obligation  was  sacredly  fulfilled  on  the 
part  of  Dr.  Coke,  until  he  was  honorably  released 
from  it  by  his  American  brethren.  In  pursuance  of 
this  engagement.  Dr.  Coke  continued  on  the  American 
continent  as  the  "  friend  and  colleague"  of  Bishop  As- 
bury, laboring  with  great  acceptance  and  usefulness 
among  the  people  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
until  the  6th  of  February,  when  he  took  his  departure 
from  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  for  Europe.  Hav- 
ing a  very  tempestuous  passage,  the  ship  suffered  se- 
verely, and  though  they  arrived  in  the  Irish  channel  in 
twenty-five  days,  they  were  there  becalmed  nearly 
sixteen  days,  during  which  time  the  following  curious 
incident  occurred,  which  shows  the  superstition  to 
which  seamen,  otherwise  intelligent,  are  often  sub- 
jected. 

During  the  calm  Dr.  Coke  improved  his  time  in 
2 


1797.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  5T 

reading  a  large  folio  volume.  "  At  length,"  says  his 
biographer,  "  being  impelled  more  violently  by  a  tide 
of  superstition,  than  his  vessel  was  by  natural  breezes, 
the  captain  exclaimed  in  unequivocal  terms,  'We 
shall  never  have  a  wind  until  that  book  is  finished.' 
*Sir, 'I  will  put  it  aside,'  replied  Dr.  Coke.  'No,* 
rejoined  the  captain,  '  that  will  not  do ;  it  must  be 
finished,  or  we  shall  have  no  wind.'  Dr.  Coke  con- 
tinued reading,  and  '  I  doubt  not,'  he  observes,  '  that 
the  captain  was  somewhat  confirmed  in  his  opinion ; 
for  just  as  I  had  finished  the  book,  the  wind  sprung 
up,  and  in  six  and  thirty  hours  brought  us  into  the 
harbor.'  " 

Having  finished  the  labors  of  this  conference, 
Bishop  Asbury  expressing  his  gladness  that  the  ses- 
sion was  over,  went  to  his  accustomed  work,  and  the 
preachers  to  their  respective  fields  of  labor,  being  "de- 
termined to  know  nothing  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified." 


CHAPTER  III. 

From  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  in  1796,  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  General  Conference  in  1800. 

1797.  There  were  six  annual  conferences  held 
this  year,  one  of  which  was  in  Wilbraham,  Mas- 
sachusetts, the  seventh  that  was  held  in  New-England. 
Three  new  circuhs  were  returned  on  the  minutes, 
namely,  Pleasant  River,  in  Maine  ;  Sandwich,  and 
Martha^s  Vineyard,  in  Massachusetts.  This  latter 
circuit  included  the  island  by  that  name  belonging  to 
the  state  of  Massachusetts,  about  twenty-one  miles  in 
3^  2 


$8  A    HISTORV    OF    THE  11797 

length,  and  was  once  the  scene  of  missionary  labors 
by  some  of  our  Puritan  ancestors,  who  devoted  them- 
selves to  the  conversion  of  the  aborigines  of  the  coun- 
try. But  the  fruit  of  these  labors,  though  they 
abounded  for  a  season,  had  long  since  disappeared  ; 
and  among  the  white  inhabitants  who  had  taken  their 
place,  a  few  only  welcomed  the  coming  of  a  Metho- 
dist preacher;  for  we  find  that  in  1798  no  more 
than  thirteen  members  of  the  Church  are  credited  to 
Martha's  Vineyard. 

Though  Bishop  Asbury  began  the  year  with  his 
wonted  diligence,  and  set  off  upon  his  annual  tour  of 
the  continent,  yet  his  physical  strength  was  not  equal 
to  the  task,  and  he  was  compelled  to  yield,  though 
with  great  reluctance,  to  the  necessity  of  employing  a 
substitute  to  preside  in  the  conferences.  He,  how- 
ever, in  company  with  Dr.  Coke,  rode  througli  seve- 
ral of  the  southern  states  until  the  doctor  left  the  con- 
tinent for  Ireland.  The  following  remark  shows  the 
intimate  and  endeared  friendship  which  subsisted  be- 
tween these  two  servants  of  God.  Speaking  of  the 
doctor's  departure,  he  says,  "  Strangers  to  the  deli- 
cacies of  Christian  friendship  know  little  or  nothing 
of  the  pain  of  parting."  After  spending  some  time  in 
Charleston,  in  consequence  of  his  great  debility, 
during  which,  however,  he  was  busy  in  setting  things 
in  order,  preaching  when  able,  and  assisting  them  in 
building  another  house  of  worship,  he  set  off  on  his 
western  tour.  "  On  my  way,"  he  says,  "  I  felt  as  if 
I  was  out  of  prison.  Hail !  ye  solitary  pines  !  the 
jessamine,  the  red-bud,  and  the  dog-wood  !  How 
charming  in  full  bloom  !  the  former  a  most  fragrant 
smell."     He   succeeded  in  crossing  the  Cumberland 


1797.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  5Q 

Mountains  in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  but  such  were 
his  bodily  afflictions,  that,  through  the  advice  and  per- 
suasions of  his  friends,  he  rehnquished  his  intention  of 
visiting  the  Kentucky  conference,  and  made  his  way 
back  as  he  was  able  to  endure  the  fatigue  of  traveling, 
to  the  city  of  Baltimore.  While  in  the  state  of  Vir- 
ginia, he  made  the  following  reflections  : — 

"  My  fever  left  me,  as  I  thought,  from  Monday  until 
Friday  night.  I  am  kept  cheerful,  but  very  weak.  My 
diet  is  chiefly  tea,  potatoes,  Indian  meal  gruel,  and  chicken 
broth.  My  reading  is  only  the  Bible.  I  cannot  think 
much,  and  write  only  a  few  letters.  I  think  of  my  charge, 
of  the  conferences,  and  the  Church,  and  of  my  dear  pa- 
rents, who  will  probably  outlive  me.*  I  must  be  made 
perfect  through  sufferings.  I  rest  in  rainy  weather, 
and  have  to  ride  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  miles  in  a 
week.  The  way  we  now  go  we  have  sometimes  to  ride 
thirty  miles  to  get  to  a  house." — "  I  have  traveled  about 
six  hundred  miles  with  an  inflammatory  fever,  and  a  fixed 
pain  in  my  breast." 

In  this  state  of  pain  and  weakness  did  this  holy 
man  of  God  pursue  his  work,  through  the  various 
sections  of  our  country,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  build- 
ing up  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  On  the  tenth  of 
June  he  arrived  in  Baltimore,  where  he  had  every 
attention  paid  to  him  which  Christian  love  and  esteem 
could  devise  ;  and  notwithstanding  his  physical  suf- 
ferings, he  employed  his  time,  so  far  as  his  feeble 
health  would  allow,  in  preaching  occasionally  to  the 

*  In  this  he  was  under  a  mistake,  as  he  lived  to  pay  a  me- 
rited token  of  respect  to  both  his  parents  on  occasion  of  their 
death. 


60  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1797. 

people,  visiting  the  classes,  and  in  organizing  an  Afri- 
can Church.  By  a  suitable  attention  to  medical  ad- 
vice, and  the  nursing  care  of  his  affectionate  friends, 
he  soon  so  far  recruited  as  to  be  able  to  resume  his 
itinerant  labors.  Accordingly  we  find  him  on  his 
northern  course  passing  through  Pennsylvania  and 
New-Jersey,  (stopping  long  enough  in  the  most  import- 
'ant  places  to  preach  and  meet  the  classes,)  to  New- 
York,  and  thence  he  went  on  his  way  with  an  inten- 
tion to  meet  the  conference  at  Wilbraham  in  Massa- 
chusetts; but  his  fever  increasing,  he  was  obliged  to 
stop  at  Tuckehoe,  at  the  house  of  Bishop  Sherwood, 
where  he  w^as  treated  with  great  kindness.  While 
here  he  makes  the  following  reflections,  which  show 
the  feelings  of  a  sensitive  heart,  struggling  under  the 
burdensome  cares  of  a  superintendent  of  the  Church, 
of  an  obedient  and  affectionate  son,  still  panting  for  an 
enlarged  sphere  of  usefulness  in  the  world  : — 

"  The  kindness  of  this  Sherwood  family,  is  great;  my 
dear  mamma,  and  Betsy  Sherwood,  and  Jonathan  and 
Bishop  also  :  if  I  had  not  been  at  home  here,  what  addi- 
tional distress  of  mind  would  have  attended  me !  my 
friends  also  were  welcome  to  come  and  see  me.  Sabbath 
day,  at  the  widow  Sherwood's,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hear- 
ing our  brother  Matthias  make  a  pointed,  profitable,  and 
powerful  discourse.  It  is  now  eight  weeks  since  I  have 
preached — awfully  dumb  Sabbaths  !  I  have  been  most  se- 
verely tried  from  various  quarters  ;  my  fevers,  my  feet,  and 
Satan,  would  set  in  with  my  gloomy  and  nervous  affections. 
Sometimes  subject  to  the  greatest  efleminacy ;  to  distress 
at  the  thought  of  a  useless,  idle  life  :  but  what  brought  the 
heavy  pang  into  my  heart,  and  the  big  tear  to  roll,  that 
never  rises  without  a  cause,  was  the  thought  of  leaving  the 
2 


1797.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  61' 

connection  without  some  proper  men  of  their  own  election, 
to  go  in  and  out  before  them  in  my  place,  and  to  keep  that 
order  which  I  have  been  seeking  these  many  years  to  es- 
tablish. My  aged  parents  were  dear  to  me  in  their  ad- 
vanced age  and  dependent  state  :  like  myself,  they  have 
spent  what  they  had  to  spare  for  many  years,  nearly  forty, 
in  keeping  open  doors  for  the  gospel  and  people  of  God ; 
this  burden  hath  been  laid  upon  them.  I  am  happy  that  I 
can  now  ride  a  little  every  clear  day  for  my  better  health, 
and  can  eat  and  sleep  better.  I  am  left  too  much  alone  :  I 
cannot  sit  in  my  room  all  day  making  gloomy  reflections 
on  the  past,  present,  and  future  life.  Lord  help  me  !  for  I 
am  poor  and  needy ;  the  hand  of  God  hath  touched  me, 
and  I  think  Satan  forts  himself  in  my  melancholy,  unem- 
ployed, unsocial,  and  inactive  hours." 

While  the  bishop  was  thus  providentially  hindered 
Irom  attending  the  conference  in  Wilbraham,  it  was 
sonae  consolation  to  him  to  know  that  there  were 
those  in  the  Church  who  could  supply  his  place, 
without  material  detriment  to  the  cause.  He  accord- 
ingly wrote  to  Jesse  Lee,  requesting  him  to  attend 
the  conference  in  Wilbraham,  which  he  did,  and  the 
conference  made  choice  of  him  to  preside  over  their 
deliberations.  This  duty  he  discharged  to  their  en- 
tire satisfaction,  doing  all  the  business  of  an  annual 
conference  except  the  ordinations.  Afterward,  at  the 
request  of  the  bishop,  and  on  the  recommendation  of 
that  conference,  Mr.  Lee  left  New-England  and  ac- 
companied Bishop  Asbury,  with  a  view  to  aid  him  in 
his  peculiar  work,  to  some  of  the  more  southern  con- 
ferences. After  attending  the  Virginia  conference  to- 
gether, the  bishop,  at  the  request  of  the  conference, 
stopped  to  recruit  his  strength,  now  much  wasted  by 

2 


62  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1797. 

sickness  and  fatigue,  and  Mr.  Lee  went  on  to  attend 
the  more  soutliern  conferences. 

This  year  the  city  of  Philadelphia  was  severely 
visited  by  an  epidennical  disease  which  hurried  into 
eternity  thousands  of  its  citizens,  and  induced  thousands 
of  others  to  flee  for  safety  into  the  country.  On  this 
account  the  conference  which  was  to  have  set  in  that 
city  was  removed  to  Duck  Creek,  in  the  state  of  De- 
laware. 

The  number  of  locations  still  continued  to  embar- 
rass the  itinerancy,  as  not  less  than  forty-three  were 
returned  this  year  "  under  a  location  through  weak- 
ness of  body  and  family  concerns."  How  much 
more  mighty  in  strength  and  comely  in  beauty 
would  have  been  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
had  she  used  the  proper  means  to  retain  in  her  itine- 
rant service  all  those  men  of  God  !  Youth  and  inex- 
perience were  often  called  in  to  supply  the  lack  of 
service  occasioned  by  these  premature  departures 
from  the  regular  work. 

While  the  increase,  though  comparatively  small 
among  the  members,  shows  the  good  effects  resulting 
from  a  united  effort  to  spread  the  knowledge  of  God 
our  Saviour,  the  decrease  in  the  number  of  preachers, 
as  will  be  seen  below,  evinces  a  lamentable  defect 
in  securing  the  continued  labors  of  all  those  who  had 
entered  the  itinerating  ranks. 

Two  preachers,  namely,  John  Ragan  and  Albert 
Van  Nostrand,  closed  their  labors  and  life  this  year  in 
peace,  and  went  to  their  reward  in  glory. 

Numbers  in  the   Church. 

Last  year  and  this,  in  the  recapitulation  of  the 
2 


1797. J                  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.                        63 

numbers,   I  find  them  taken  by  states 

;  and  that  the 

reader  may  see  the  relative  strength  of  Methodism  in 

the  several  states  of  the 

Union,  I  give 

them  as   they 

stand  in  the  minutes  for 

1797. 

Whites. 

Colored. 

Province  of  Maine 

616 

New-Hampshire 

92 

Massachusetts 

905 

8 

Rhode  Island 

175 

2 

Connecticut 

1186 

15 

New-York 

4612 

238 

New-Jersey 

2438 

127 

Pennsylvania 

2900 

198 

Delaware 

1461 

823 

Maryland 

6982 

5106 

Virginia 

11046 

2490 

North   Carolina 

7251 

2071 

South  Carolina 

2693 

890 

Georgia 

1022 

148 

Tennessee 

534 

42 

Kentucky 

1740 

57 

Canada 

792 

3 

46,445 

12,218 

12,218 

Preachers. 

Total 

58,663 

262 

Last  year 

56,664 

293 

Increase  1,999      Dec.  31 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  enumeration,  that 
there  were  upward  of  twelve  thousand  people  of  co- 
lor   attached    to   the    Methodist  Episcopal    Church. 


64  A    HISTORY    OF    THK  [1797. 

These   were  clnefly  in    ihc  soullierii   slates,    and    liad 
been  gathered  principally  from  the  slave  population 

At  an  early  period  of  the  Methodist  ministry  in 
this  country,  it  had  turned  its  attention  and  directed 
its  efforts  toward  these  people,  with  a  view  to  bring 
them  to  the  enjoyment  of  gospel  blessings.  The 
preachers  deplored,  with  the  deepest  sympathy,  their 
unhappy  condition,  especially  their  enslavement  to  sin 
and  Satan  ;  and  while  they  labored  unsuccessfully  by 
all  prudent  means  to  effect  their  disenthralment  from 
their  civil  bondage,  they  were  amply  rewarded  for 
their  evangelical  efforts  to  raise  them  from  their  moral 
degradation,  by  seeing  thousands  of  them  happily 
converted  to  God.  These  efforts  added  much  to  the 
labor  of  the  preachers,  for  such  was  the  condition  of 
the  slaves  that  they  were  not  permitted,  on  working 
days,  to  attend  the  public  administration  of  the  word 
in  company  with  their  masters ;  and  hence  the 
preachers  devoted  the  evenings  to  their  instruction, 
after  the  customary  labors  of  the  day  were  closed. 
And  although  at  first  there  was  much  aversion  mani 
fested  by  the  masters  toward  these  benevolent  efforts 
to  elevate  the  condition  of  their  slaves,  yet  witnessing 
the  beneficial  effects  of  the  gospel  upon  their  hearts 
and  lives,  they  gradually  yielded  their  prejudices,  and 
encouraged  the  preachers  in  their  labors,  assisted  in 
providing  houses  to  accommodate  them  in  their  wor 
ship,  and  otherwise  protected  them  in  their  religious 
privileges.  While,  therefore,  the  voice  of  the  preach- 
ers was  not  heard  in  favor  of  emancipation  from  their 
civil  bondage,  nor  their  remonstrances  against  the 
evils  of  slavery  heeded,  the  voice  of  truth  addressed  to 
the  understandings  and  consciences  of  the  slaves 
2 


1798.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  65 

themselves,  was  often  heard  with  believing  and  obedi- 
ent hearts,  and  made  instrumental  in  their  deliverance 
from  the  shackles  of  sin  and  the  bondage  of  Satan. 
Those  who  were  thus  redeemed  were  enrolled  among 
the  people  of  God,  and  were  consequently  entitled  to 
the  privileges  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  In  some  of 
the  northern  cities,  houses  of  worship  were  erected  for 
their  special  and  separate  accommodation,  and  they 
were  put  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  white  preacher, 
who  was  generally  assisted  by  such  colored  local 
preachers  as  may  have  been  raised  up  among  them 
selves  ;  for  many  such,  from  time  to  time,  possessing 
gifts  for  edification,  were  licensed  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel  to  their  colored  brethren,  and  some  of  these  have 
been  eminently  useful.  In  the  more  southern  states, 
where  the  municipal  regulations  in  respect  to  the 
slaves  are  more  severe,  some  portion  of  the  churches 
where  the  white  population  assemble  is  usually  set 
apart  for  the  blacks.  Their  behavior  has  generally 
been  such  as  to  irri^ure  the  confidence  of  their  masters 
and  the  protection  of  their  civil  rulers,  though  they 
labored  under  the  disabilities  incident  to  a  state  of  ser- 
vitude. 

This  year,  ten  months  from  the  time  the  former 
house  was  consumed  by  fire,  on  the  19th  of  October, 
the  new  church  in  Light-street,  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, was  consecrated  to  the  service  of  almighty 
God. 

1798.  There  were  seven  conferences  this  year,  so 
arranged  that  the  bishops  might  begin  their  labors  in 
the  southern  states  in  the  winter  season,  and  travel 
on  north  in  the  spring  and  slimmer  months.  One  of 
ihese  conferences  was  held  in  Readfield,  in  the  pro- 

2 


66  A    HISTORV    OF    THE  [1798. 

viiice  of  Maine,  for  the  accommodation  of  that  part  of 
the  work. 

CI*enango,  in  the  western  part  of  New-York,  Ver- 
gennes,  in  Vermont,  and  Providence,  in  Rhode  Island, 
were  added  to  the  Ust  of  circuits.  Tlie  western  sec- 
tion of  the  state  of  New-York  was,  at  this  time,  a  new 
country,  just  filhng  up  with  inhabitants,  and  was 
generally  destitute  of  the  word  and  ordinances  of 
Christianity.  To  supply  them  with  these  several 
young  men,  full  of  zeal  for  the  cause  of  God,  were 
sent  into  this  newly  settled  country,  under  the  care  of 
the  Rev.  F.  Garrettson,  to  whom  the  charge  of  the 
Albany  district  was  confided.  As  early  as  1792, 
Mr.  Garrettson  had  travelled  through  various  parts  of 
this  new  country,  preaching  to  the  people  in  their  log 
houses,  in  barns,  and  often  holding  his  quarterly  meet- 
ings under  the  foliage  of  the  trees.  Aided  as  he  was 
by  those  zealous  and  indefatigable  young  preachers 
who  entered  this  field  of  labor,  he  was  instrumental 
in  extending  the  gospel  and  its'  attendant  bless- 
ings into  these  destitute  places  ;  by  these  means 
those  societies  were  established,  which  have  continued 
to  flourish  and  increase  to  the  present  time.  Along 
the  Mohawk  river,  as  far  as  Utica,  as  well  as  the 
Chenango  and  Susquehanna  rivers,  those  pioneers  of 
Methodism  penetrated,  and  laid  the  foundation  for 
those  extensive  revivals  of  religion  which  have  blessed 
that  region  of  country.  We  may  form  some  judg- 
ment of  the  good  effects  of  these  labors  and  sacrifices 
from  the  fact  that  there  were  returned  in  the  minutes 
for  this  year,  including  the  Tioga,  Wyoming,  Sara- 
toga, and  Seneca  circuits,  892  members  of  the  Church. 
Had  equal  zeal  been  manifested  at  this  early  period 
2 


1798. J  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  67 

in  building  suitable  houses  of  worship,  as  the  work 
enlarged  with  the  progress  of  the  settlements,  Me- 
thodism would  have  taken  a  stand  here  more  firmly, 
and  have  exerted  a  much  more  hallowed  and  exten- 
sive influence  over  the  population.  As  it  was,  how- 
ever, the  permanency  of  the  work  has  been  manifested 
by  its  steady  growth  and  leavening  effects  on  that  flou- 
rishing part  of  the  country  ;  and  more  latterly  the  defect 
alluded  to  has  been  in  a  great  measure  remedied  by 
the  zeal  and  industry  of  those  enlightened  men  to 
whom  the  oversight  of  the  work  has  been  committed. 
A  gradual  extension  of  the  cause  was  witnessed 
generally  throughout  our  bounds,  and  much  harmony 
and  peace  prevailed  among  preachers  and  people. 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.              Colored.              Total.  Preachers. 

This  year,     47,867         12,302         60,169  267 

Last  year,     46,445         12,218         58,663  262 

Increase,  1,422  84  1,506  5 

During  the  prevalence  of  the  yellow  fever  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  this  year,  many  estimable  citizens 
were  swept  from  time  to  eternity,  and  among  others 
that  eminent  preacher  of  the  gospel,  John  DickinSy 
whose  useful  services  in  the  Church  entitle  him  to  a 
more  special  and  lengthened  notice  than  what  has 
been  given  to  some  others. 

He  was  a  native  of  Great  Britain,  born  and  educat- 
ed in  the  city  of  London.  At  what  time  he  emigrated 
to  this  country  is  not  stated ;  but  it  appears  that  in 
1774  he  was  made  a  partaker  of  divine  grace,  and 
united  himself  to  the  Methodist  society  in  Virginia. 
In  1777  he  was  admitted  into  the  traveling  ministry, 

2 


68  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1798. 

and  itinerated  extensively  through  Virginia  and  North 
Carohna  in  the  time  of  the  revolutionary  war. 
For  some  cause  he  located  in  1781,  but  two  years 
after  was  readmitted  into  the  conference,  and  was 
stationed  in  the  city  of  New-York,  where  he  labored 
for  several  years  acceptably  and  usefully.  When  the 
Book  Room  was  established  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia in  17S9,  he  was  appointed  to  its  superintend- 
ence, and  he  managed  its  concerns  with  great  skill 
and  fidelity  until  his  demise.  For  this  station  he  was 
eminently  qualified,  not  only  on  account  of  his  strict 
fidelity,  his  theological  attainments,  and  thorough  ac- 
quaintance with  the  economy  of  Methodism,  but  also 
from  his  literary  acquirements.  His  knowledge  of 
the  sciences  was  considerable,  and  besides  his  own 
language,  he  was  familiar  with  the  Latin  and  Greek. 
And,  though  not  brilliant  in  his  conceptions  nor  splen- 
did as  a  preacher,  he  was  of  sound  judgment,  a  close 
and  conclusive  reasoner,  a  plain,  pointed,  and  success- 
ful preacher,  always  adapting,  as  nearly  as  might  be, 
his  discourses  to  the  condition  and  circumstances  of 
his  hearers.  As  an  evidence  of  the  soundness  of  his 
views  as  a  divine,  may  be  mentioned  the  fact  that  the 
"  Short  Scriptural  Catechism,"  which  has  been  published 
for  many  years  at  our  Book  Room,  was  the  produc- 
tion of  his  pen.  And  whatever  may  be  said  in  be- 
half of  others  which  have  been  since  issued  from  the 
press,  this  is  among  the  most  excellent  of  them  all, 
and  should  never  be  superseded  by  those  of  less 
intrinsic  merit.  It  contains  in  fact  a  body  of 
divinity  in  a  few  words,  selected  from  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  arranged  in  due  order,  in  the  very  phrase- 
ology in  "  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth." 
2 


)  798.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  69 

The  accuracy  and  fidelity  with  which  he  discharged 
his  duties  as  an  editor,  and  also  as  a  financier  and 
book-keeper — for  in  each  of  these  capacities  did  he 
serve  while  superintending  the  Book  Concern  in  Phi- 
ladelphia— maybe  seen  and  appreciated  by  an  inspec- 
tion of  the  books  of  the  establishment,  by  a  recurrence 
to  the  manner  in  which  it  prospered  in  his  hands, 
and  the  typographical  correctness  with  which  the 
books  were  executed. 

In  the  relations  of  husband  and  parent  he  sustained 
the  purity  and  dignity  of  his  station,  mixing  in  all  his 
deportment  the  tenderness  of  the  warmest  affection 
with  the  attributes  essential  to  maintain  his  authority 
as  the  head  of  a  family.  In  the  relation  of  a  father 
ever  attentive  to  the  best  interests  of  his  children,  he 
devoted  himself  to  their  education,  to  training  their 
minds  to  moral  and  relij*ious  duties,  and  to  restraining 
them  from  those  vices  which  corrupt  the  mind,  and 
lay  the  foundation  for  present  and  future  misery. 

The  state  of  his  mind  may  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing extract  of  a  letter  which  he  wrote  to  Bishop  As- 
bury  a  short  time  before  his  death.  The  reader  will 
recollect  that  the  yellow  fever  was  then  raging  in  Phi- 
ladelphia with  awful  and  destructive  violence,  sweep- 
ing into  eternity  thousands  of  his  fellow-beings,  while 
others,  to  escape  from  this  devouring  plague,  were 
flying  into  various  parts  of  the  country.  Notwith- 
standing these  alarming  aspects  in  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  around  him,  John  Dickins  remained,  as  a 
faithful  sentinel,  at  his  post,  giving  warning  to  the 
impenitent,  and  counsel  and  consolation  to  the  trem- 
bhng  and  dying  believer.  In  the  midst  of  these  things, 
he  says  to  Bishop  Asbury, 

2 


70  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1798. 

"  Ml/  much-esteemed  Friend  and  Brother : — I  sit  down 
to  write  as  in  the  jaws  of  death.  Whether  Providence 
may  permit  me  to  see  your  face  again  in  the  flesh  I  know 
not ;  but  if  not,  I  hope,  through  abundant  mercy,  we  shall 
meet  in  the  presence  of  God.  I  am  truly  conscious  that 
I  am  an  unprofitable,  a  very  unprojitahle  servant ;  but  I 
think  my  heart  condemns  me  not,  and  therefore  I  have 
confidence  in  God.  Perhaps  I  might  have  left  the  city,  as 
most  of  my  friends  and  brethren  have  done  ;  but  when  I 
thought  of  such  a  thing,  my  mind  recurred  to  that  Provi- 
dence which  has  done  so  much  for  me,  a  poor  worm,  that 
I  was  afraid  of  indulging  any  distrust.  So  I  commit  my- 
self and  family  into  the  hands  of  God,  for  life  or  death." 

Soon  after  writing  the  above,  he  was  seized  with 
the  raging  epideniic,  and  on  the  27th  of  September, 
1798,  he  took  his  departure  to  a  better  world,  in  the 
fifty-second  year  of  his  age.  During  his  sickness, 
which  he  contracted  while  visiting  the  abodes  of 
wretchedness  and  administering  the  consolations  of 
the  gospel  to  the  dying,  he  was  saved  from  those  awful 
agitations  of  body  and  mind  which  are  usually  the 
accompaniments  of  this  fatal  disease,  and  with  great 
tranquillity  of  mind  he  entered  into  his  Master's  joy. 
From  the  testimony  of  his  bereaved  widow  it  appears 
that  he  said   to  her,  on  the  first  day  of  his  illness, — 

"  I  am  very  ill ;  but  I  intreat  you  in  the  most  earnest 
manner,  not  to  be  the  least  discomposed  or  uneasy.  Tell 
the  children,  I  beg  them  not  to  be  uneasy,  for  divine  vns- 
dom  cannot  err.  Glory  be  to  God  !  I  can  rejoice  in  his 
will,  whether  for  life  or  death.  I  know  all  is  well !  Glory 
be  to  Jesus  !  I  hang  upon  thee.  Glory  be  to  thee,  O,  my 
God !  I  have  made  it  my  constant  business,  in  my  feeble 
2 


1799.1  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  71 

manner,  to  please  thee — and  now,  0  God,  thou  dost  com- 
fort me." 

In  this  happy  frame  of  mind  did  he  meet  the  last 
enemy  on  his  first  approaches.  Then  clasping  his 
hands  together,  he  joyfully  exclaimed, — - 

"  Glory  be  to  God  !  Glory  !  Glory  be  to  God  !  My  soul 
now  enjoys  such  sweet  communion  with  him,  that  I  would 
not  give  it  for  all  the  world.  Glory  be  to  Jesus  !  O,  glory 
be  to  God  !  I  have  not  felt  so  much  for  seven  years. 
Love  him  !  Trust  him  !  Praise  him  !" 

Bishop  Asbury  bears  the  following  testimony  to  the 
character  of  Mr.  Dickins  : — "  For  piety,  probity,  pro- 
fitable preaching,  holy  living.  Christian  education  of 
his  children,  secret  closet  prayer,  I  doubt  whether  his 
superior  is  to  be  found  either  in  Europe  or  America." 

James  King^  and  Michael  H.  R.  Wilson,  also 
finished  their  course  and  entered  into  their  Master's 

Twelve  were  located  ;  and  for  the  first  time,  four 
were  returned  as  supernumerary  preachers  this  year. 
These  were,  John  Smith,  Thomas  Morrell,  Enoch 
Mudge,  and  Henri/  Willis. 

1799.  This  year  there  were  only  six  conferences, 
the  first  of  which  was  in^ Charleston,  S.  C,  January  1, 
and  the  last  in  the  city  of  New-York,  June  19, 
1799. 

As  John  Dickins,  the  book  steward,  had  gone  to 
his  reward,  by  the  recommendation  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Conference,  Bishop  Asbury  appointed  Ezekiel 
Cooper,  to  superintend  the  Book  Concern,  which  was 
still  carried  on  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

This  year  was  distinguished  by  several  revivals  of 

2 


72  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1799. 

religion.  Iii  Upper  Canada  a  gracious  revival  had 
commenced  in  1797,  chiefly  through  the  instrument- 
ality of  Calvin  IVooster,  whose  fervency  of  spirit  led 
him  forth  in  the  work  of  reformation  in  a  most  remark- 
able manner,  and  with  singular  success.  In  company 
with  Samuel  Coate,  he  volunteered  his  services  as  a 
missionary  to  this  distant  field  of  labor,  and  after  en- 
during almost  incredible  hardships  on  their  way,  for  they 
lodged  no  less  than  twenty-one  nights  in  the  wilder- 
ness, they  arrived  in  safety  just  in  time  to  attend  a 
quarterly  meeting  on  the  Bay  of  Quinte  circuit. 
After  the  preaching  on  Saturday,  while  the  presiding 
elder,  Darius  Dunham,  retired  with  the  official  bre- 
thren to  hold  the  quarterly  meeting  conference,  brother 
Wooster  remained  in  the  meeting  to  pray  with  some 
who  were  under  awakenings,  and  others  who  were 
groaning  for  full  redemption  in  the  blood  of  Christ. 
While  uniting  with  his  brethren  in  this  exercise,  the 
power  of  the  Most  High  seemed  to  overshadow  the 
congregation,  and  many  were  filled  with  joy  unspeak- 
able, and  were  praising  the  Lord  aloud  for  what  he 
had  done  for  their  souls,  while  others  "  with  speech- 
less awe,  and  silent  love,"  w^ere  prostrate  on  the 
floor.  When  the  presiding  elder  came  into  the  house, 
he  beheld  these  things  with  ^  mixture  of  wonder  and 
indignation,  believing  that  "  wild-fire"  was  burning 
among  tlie  people.  After  gazing  for  a  while  with 
silent  astonishment,  he  kneeled  down  and  began  to 
pray  to  God  to  stop  the  "  raging  of  the  wild-fire,"  as  he 
called  it.  In  the  meantime,  Calvin  Wooster,  whose 
soul  was  burning  with  the  "  fire  of  the  "Holy  Spirit," 
kneeled  by  the  side  of  brother  Dunham,  and  while  the 
latter  was  earnestly  engaged  in  prayer  for  God  to  put 
2 


1799.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  73 

out  the  wild-fire,  Wooster  softly  whispered  out  a 
prayer  in  the  following  words,  "Lord,  bless  brother 
Dunham  !  Lord,  bless  brother  Dunham  !"  Thus  they 
continued  for  some  minutes — when,  at  length,  the 
prayer  of  brother  Wooster  prevailed,  and  Dunham  fell 
prostrate  on  the  floor — and  ere  he  arose  received  a 
baptism  of  that  very  fire  which  he  had  so  feelingly 
deprecated  as  the  efi'ect  of  a  wild  imagination.  There 
was  now  harmony  in  their  prayers,  feelings,  and  views; 
and  this  was  the  commencement  of  a  revival  of  reli- 
gion which  soon  spread  through  the  entire  province  ; 
for  as  brother  Dunham  was  the  presiding  elder,  he  was 
instrumental  in  spreading  the  sacred  flame  throughout 
the  district,  to  the  joy  and  salvation  of  hundreds  of 
immortal  souls. 

Calvin  Wooster  was  a  man  of  mighty  prayer  and 
faith.  Frequently  was  his  voice  heard,  by  the  fami- 
lies where  he  lodged,  in  the  night  season,  when  rising 
from  his  bed  while  others  slept,  he  would  pour  out  the 
desire  of  his  soul  to  God,  in  earnest  prayer  for  the 
salvation  of  souls.  Such,  indeed,  was  the  strength 
of  his  faith  in  God,  and  the  fervency  of  his  spirit,  as 
well  as  the  bold  and  pointed  manner  of  his  appeals  to 
the  consciences  of  his  hearers,  and  particularly  to  the 
wicked,  that  few  of  these  could  stand  before  him — 
they  would  either  flee  from  the  house,  or,  smitten  with 
conviction,  fall  down  and  cry  aloud  for  mercy — 
while,  in  the  midst  of  these  exercises,  the  saints  of 
God  were  shouting  forth  his  praises. 

Nor  was  he  alone  in  this  work.  The  other 
preachers  caught  the  flame  of  divine  love,  and  were 
carried  forward  under  its  sacred  impulses  in  their 
Master's  work.     Many  instances  of  the  manifestations 

Vol.  IL — 4 


74  A    HISTORY    OP   THE  [1799 

of  divine  power  and  grace  might  be  narrated,  which 
go  to  iUustrate  ihc  authority  by  which  these  men  of 
God  spoke  in  liis  name  ;  one  of  which  I  will  relate. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  in  the  Bay  of  Quinte  cir- 
cuit, as  the  preacher  commenced  his  sermon,  a 
thoughtless  man  in  the  front  gallery,  commenced,  in  a 
playful  mood,  to  swear  profanely,  and  otherwise  to 
disturb  the  congregation.  The  preacher  paid  no  at- 
tention to  him  until  he  was  in  the  midst  of  of  his  ser- 
mon, when,  feeling  strong  in  faith  and  the  power  of 
His  might,  suddenly  stopping,  he  fixed  his  piercing  eye 
upon  the  profane  man,  then  stamping  with  his  foot, 
and  pointing  his  finger  at  him  with  great  energy,  he 
cried  out,  "  My  God  !  smite  him  /"  He  instantly  fell, 
as  if  shot  through  the  heart  with  a  bullet.  At  this 
moment  such  a  divine  afflatus  came  down  upon  the 
congregation,  that  sinners  were  crying  to  God  for 
mercy  in  every  direction,  while  the  saints  of  God 
burst  forth  in  loud  praises  to  his  name.  Similar  in- 
stances of  God's  gracious  presence  were  not  uncom- 
mon in  those  days  in  that  country,  as  they  have  been 
related  to  the  writer  on  the  most  unquestionable 
authority.  Indeed,  this  great  work  may  be  said  to  have 
been,  in  some  sense,  the  beginning  of  that  great  revival 
of  religion  which  soon  after  spread  through  various 
parts  of  the  United  States. 

The  doctrine  more  especially  urged  upon  believers 
was  that  of  sanctification,  o?'  holiness  of  heart  and 
life, — a  complete  surrender  of  the  soul  and  body,  all 
their  powers  and  affections,  to  the  service  of  God — and 
this  was  pressed  upon  them  as  {heir  pt'esent  privilege, 
depending  for  its  accomplishment  now  on  the  faith- 
fulness of  God,  who  had  promised  to  do  it.  It  was 
2 


1799.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  75 

this  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  fired  and  filled 
the  hearts  of  God's  ministers  at  that  time,  and  which 
enabled  them  so  to  speak  that  the  people/eZi  that  their 
words  were  with  "  demonstration  and  power,"  and  they 
could  not  well  resist  the  influence  of  those  "thoughts 
which  breathed,"  and  those  "  words  which  burned." 

Nor  were  they  less  assiduous  to  press  upon  the 
unconverted  the  necessity  of  immediate  and  instanta- 
neous conversion,  or  a  present  justification  by  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ — warning  them  in  the  most  faithful  and 
affectionate  manner  of  the  imminent  danger  of  delay- 
ing one  moment  to  repent  of  their  sins,  and  surrender 
their  hearts  to  God.  O  what  awful  sensations  ran 
through  the  assemblies  while  Calvin  Wooster,  and 
others  of  a  like  spirit,  were  denouncing  the  just  judg- 
ments of  God  against  impenitent  sinners,  in  such 
pointed  language  as  made  the  "  ear  to  tingle,"  and  the 
heart  to  palpitate !  Nor  were  they  less  affected 
while  these  men  of  God  portrayed  in  such  lively 
colors  the  beauty  and  amiableness  of  religion,  the 
ability  and  willingness  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to 
save  them,  and  concluded  by  urging  them,  in  the  most 
earnest  manner,  and  with  the  most  affectionate  and 
pathetic  strain  of  eloquence,  to  accept  of  pardon  and 
salvation  without  a  moment's  delay. 

We  are  not  to  suppose  that  this  work  went  on 
without  opposition.  In  that  country  there  was  a 
marked  line  of  distinction  "  between  the  righteous  and 
the  wicked,"  there  being  but  few  formal  professors  of 
religion  to  interpose  between  the  two  classes.  And 
such  was  the  general  state  of  society,  that  those  who 
did  not  embrace  religion  felt  themselves  at  liberty  to 
manifest  their  hatred  to  its  doctrines  by  open  acts  of 

2 


76  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1799. 

hostility,  by  scurrilous  speeches,  and  in  some  in- 
stances by  personal  violence.  But  in  the  midst 
of  the  obloquy  and  reproach  heaped  upon  the 
servants  of  God,  they  held  on  their  way,  boldly  pro- 
claiming the  sacred  truths  of  the  gospel ;  and,  not 
unfrequently,  some  of  the  boldest  opposers  of  the 
truth  no  sooner  came  within  its  hearing,  than  they 
were  forced  to  yield  to  its  authority,  when  they  will- 
ingly bowed  their  necks  to  the  yoke  of  Jesus  Christ. 
One  instance  among  many  others  I  will  relate.  A  stout 
opposer  of  the  Methodists,  hearing  that  his  wife  was 
in  a  prayer-meeting,  rushed  violently  into  the  room, 
seized  his  wife,  and  dragged  her  to  the  door,  when, 
attempting  to  open  it,  he  was  himself  seized  with 
trembling,  his  knees  failed  him,  and  he  fell  helpless 
upon  the  floor,  and  was  fain  to  beg  an  interest  in  the 
prayers  of  those  very  people  whom  he  had  so  much 
despised  and  persecuted.  He  rose  not  until  the  Lord 
released  him  from  his  sins  and  made  him  a  partaker 
of  his  pardoning  mercy.  This  very  man  afterward 
became  an  itinerant  minister,  with  whom  T  was  per- 
sonally acquainted,  and  had  the  relation  of  these  facts 
from  his  own  lips. 

All,  however,  were  not  so  fortunate.  The  Rev. 
James  Coleman,  calling  to  visit  a  woman  under  con- 
viction for  sin,  while  talking  with  her,  was  assailed 
by  her  husband,  who  struck  him  on  the  forehead  so 
violently,  that  he  carried  the  mark  for  a  considerable 
time  ;  and  then,  to  add  to  the  enormity  of  the  offence, 
raised  the  scandalous  report  that  Mr.  Coleman  was 
holding  improper  discourse  with  his  wife,  which,  indeed, 
was  believed  by  many,  until  the  real  cause  was  reveal- 
ed, namely,  the  man's  hatred  to  true  religion. 
2 


1799.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  77 

This  seems  a  suitable  place  to  notice  the  introduc- 
tion of  Methodism  into  the  state  of  Ohio,  which  was 
received  into  the  Union  in  1802.  It  is  said  that  the 
first  settlement  in  Ohio  was  commenced  in  the  town 
of  Marietta  in  1788,  by  emigrants  from  Massachu- 
setts, Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut.  What  is  called 
the  "  Western  Reserve,"  was  chiefly  settled  by  per- 
sons from  Connecticut,  who  purchased  the  lands  of 
that  state  about  eight  years  after  the  first  settlement 
was  made.  Like  all  the  other  new  territories  in  our 
western  wilderness,  the  settlers  were  at  first  des- 
titute of  the  ordinances  of  religion,  though  many  of 
those  who  removed  to  Ohio  carried  their  Bibles  with 
them,  and  retained  the  religious  impressions  which 
they  had  received  at  home. 

It  seems  that  about  the  year  1796,  Francis 
M^'Cormick,  a  local  preacher,  emigrated  from  Virginia, 
first  to  Kentucky,  but  not  liking  his  situation,  removed 
to  what  was  then  called  the  North-western  Territory, 
now  Ohio,  and  settled  on  the  Little  Miami,  near 
where  the  town  of  Milford  now  stands.  Having  no 
associates  like-minded  with  himself,  he  went  to  work 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  was  instrumental  in 
forming  a  class  of  ten  members,  including  himself 
and  the  members  of  his  family.  Being  encouraged 
by  this  success,  he  began  holding  meetings  wherever 
he  could  gain  access  to  the  people,  and  soon  suc- 
ceeded in  forming  two  more  classes,  one  at  brother 
Ramsey's,  on  the  Obannon's  Creek,  and  another  at 
brother  Nutt's  near  Columbia,  each  consisting  of  about 
ten  members.  In  these  labors,  though  much  opposed 
by  the  thoughtless  and  some  bigoted  professors  of 
reli^r'i-n,  he  enjoyed  much  of  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 


TF  1    HISTORY   OF   THE  [1799. 

and   often  rejoiced  over  returning   prodigals  to  their 
Father's  house. 

Being  attached  to  the  itinerant  plan  of  preaching 
the  gospel,  Mr.  M'Cornfiick  made  several  attempts  to 
procure  a  regular  preacher,  but  could  not  succeed,  be- 
cause there  were  not  preachers  enough  to  supply  the 
circuits  already  formed  and  forming  in  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  and  at  the  same  time  to  answer  his  call. 
At  length  he  was  joined  in  his  labors  by  Philip  Gatchf 
who  was  among  the  first  Methodist  preachers  raised 
up  in  America,  for  his  name  appears  in  the  minutes 
as  an  assistant  in  1774,  and  was  stationed  at  that 
time  on  Frederick  circuit  in  Maryland,  his  native 
state.  He  was  now  a  local  preacher — having  desist- 
ed from  traveling  in  1778 — and  moving  into  this 
new  country,  became  an  efficient  agent  in  build- 
ing up  the  cause  of  God.  They  were  soon  after 
joined  by  some  other  pious  families  from  various 
parts  of  the  older  states;  and  in  1799  they  were 
visited  by  the  Rev.  John  Kohler,  from  the  Hinkstone 
circuit,  in  Kentucky.  In  company  with  brother 
M'Cormick,  he  traveled  up  the  Little  Miami  to  the 
Mad  river,  as  far  as  there  were  any  settlements, 
and  then  down  the  Great  Miami  river.  They  met 
with  some  opposition  from  a  few  bigoted  professors 
of  religion,  with  whom  they  disagreed  on  some  doc- 
trinal points,  but  in  general  the  people  appeared  ripe 
for  the  gospel ;  and  thus  these  visits  laid  the  founda 
tion  for  that  flourishing  state  of  Methodism  which  has 
since  been  witnessed  in  this  thriving  part  of  our 
country.  They  were  soon  after  regularly  supplied 
with  preaching,  and  though  the  inhabitants,  from 
their  ignorance  of  the  real  character  and  motives  of 
2 


1799.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  79 

the  preachers  who  came  among  them,  seemed  at  first 
afraid  to  receive  them  into  their  houses  or  to  hear 
them  preach,  yet  they  gradually  succeeded  in  gaining 
their  attention  and  confidence,  and  in  bringing  many 
of  them  from  "  darkness  into  the  marvelous  light  of 
the  gospel." 

In  1803,  John  Collins,  a  local  preacher  from 
New-Jersey,  settled  on  the  east  fork  of  the  Little 
Miami  :  his  labors  were  greatly  blessed  among  the 
people,  and  through  his  instrumentality  several  young 
preachers  were  raised  up  for  the  itinerancy,  who 
became  eminently  useful.  In  1807  brother  Collins 
joined  the  traveling  ministry,  and  has  continued  his 
useful  labors  to  the  present  time.  Through  his  and 
the  labors  of  others  who  united  with  him  in  this 
work,  circuits  were  formed,  and  societies  established 
in  that  part  of  Ohio  along  the  banks  of  the  Great  and 
Little  Miami  rivers.  Mad  River,  Cesar's  Creek,  in 
Urbana  and  Xenia,  Derby  and  Paint  Creeks,  so 
that  in  1807  an  annual  conference  was  held  in  Chilli- 
cothe,  at  which  time  there  were  in  the  Ohio  district 
3883  members,  and  17  preachers. 

In  the  Western  Reserve,  Methodism  is  about  co- 
eval with  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  country.  The 
first  society  was  formed  in  Deerfield,  in  1801,  by  a 
few  persons  who  had  emigrated  from  Massachusetts, 
namely,  Lewis  Day,  Lewis  Ely,  their  families,  and  a 
few  others.  The  next  year  a  society  was  formed,  in 
the  town  of  Hubbard,  at  George  Frazier's,  an  emigrant 
from  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  In  the  same  year, 
Henry  Shaul,  an  exhorter,  and  afterward  a  local  preacher, 
removed  from  Georgetown,  Pa.,  having  previously  tra- 
veled nearly  forty  miles  through  the  woods  to  visit  the 

2 


80  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1799. 

brethren  in  llmt  place,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Deerfield.  About  the  same  time  William  Veach  and 
Amos  Smith,  local  preachers,  settled  in  Hubbard,  and 
helped  to  build  up  the  society  ;  and  Obed  Crosby,  a 
local  preacher,  established  himself  in  the  town  of 
Vernon.  These  opened  the  way  for  the  introduction 
of  Methodism  in  the  Western  Reserve. 

In  1803,  Shadrach  Bostwick,  who  had  been  a 
travelling  preacher  for  several  years  in  the  eastern 
conferences,  was  stationed  as  a  missionary  at  Deer- 
field,  which  was  at  that  time  connected  with  the  Bal- 
timore conference.  He  was  the  first  regular  preacher 
sent  to  the  Western  Reserve,  and  he  succeeded  in 
forming  a  small  circuit  among  the  new  settlements, 
which  he  traveled  by  following  Indian  trails  and 
marked  trees,  from  one  little  settlement  to  another, 
and  at  the  next  conference  he  returned  sixteen  Church 
members.  For  want  of  roads  and  bridges,  he  was 
compelled  to  desist  from  traveling  in  the  winter 
months.  He  continued  his  labors  until  1805,  when 
he  located,  and  the  few  appointments  he  had  secured 
were  connected  with  the  Erie  circuit,  then  under  the 
charge  of  David  Best  and  Joseph  A.  Shackleford.  In 
this  way  the  work  commenced  in  this  section  of  the 
state  of  Ohio,  and  it  has  continued  from  that  day  to 
this  gradually  and  sometimes  powerfully  to  advance, 
keeping  an  even  pace  with  the  progress  of  the  settle- 
ments and  the  improvements  of  society. 

•  In  many  other  parts  of  the  country  the  work  of  God 
greatly  prospered.  The  delightful  harmony  which 
prevailed  among  preachers  and  people,  and  the  efforts 
which  were  made  to  extend  the  blessings  of  the 
gospel  into  the  new  settlements,  east,  west,  north,  and 
2 


1799.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  81 

south,  gave  a  vigorous  impulse  to  the  general  cause, 
and  became  a  means  of  bringing  hundreds  into  the 
fold  of  Christ. 

In  the  month  of  January  of  this  year,  George 
Clark  was  sent  to  St.  Mary's,  in  the  state  of  Georgia. 
He  found  the  people  in  general  quite  destitute  of  the 
gospel,  and  consequently  ignorant  of  its  requisitions, 
some  having  arrived  to  maturity  without  the  privilege 
of  ever  hearing  a  sermon  or  even  a  prayer.  He  be- 
stowed his  labors  chiefly  on  the  people  in  Glenn  and 
Camden  counties,  and  so  unacquainted  were  they 
with  Divine  worship  that  he  found  it  needful  to  teach 
them  the  very  first  elements  of  Christianity,  even 
when  they  should  kneel,  and  when  sit,  in  time  of 
public  worship.  His  labors,  however,  were  so  sanc- 
tioned of  God,  that  before  the  year  closed,  many  of 
the  people  became  constant  hearers  of  the  word, 
while  a  number  of  others  were  truly  converted  to  God 
and  thoroughly  reformed  in  their  lives.  The  first 
Methodist  society  in  the  town  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  was 
formed  in  the  month  of  December  of  this  year  under 
the  labours  of  Stith  Mead.  Some  time  after  this  they 
succeeded  in  building  a  commodious  house  of  wor 
ship,  and  the  society  has  gradually  enlarged  its  bor 
ders  from  that  day  to  this. 

This  year,  Tobias  Gibson  volunteered  his  services 
as  a  missionary  to  Natchez,  in  the  Mississippi  Terri- 
tory. Though  this  territory  was  not  received  into  the 
confederacy  as  an  independent  state,  until  the  year 
1817,  yet  the  people  from  several  of  the  older  states 
had  emigrated  into  its  bounds,  and  were  forming  set- 
tlements in  various  places  along  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  the  chief  of  which,  at  that  time, 
4^  2 


82  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1799. 

was  the  town  of  Natchez.  Like  other  new  settle- 
ments, they  were  generally  destitute  of  religious  pri- 
vileges, and  in  danger  of  being  carried  away  in  the 
stream  of  moral  pollution.  Tobias  Gibson, being  re- 
leased from  his  regular  work,  in  consequence  of  ill 
health,  feeling  his  mind  drawn  toward  the  people  in 
that  western  country,  set  off  to  pay  them  a  visit. 
Though  he  found  them  under  the  influence  of  different 
religious  creeds,  so  far  as  any  religious  influence  was 
felt,  they  received  him  as  a  messenger  of  God,  and 
his  labors  were  blessed  to  the  awakening  and  con- 
version of  souls.  The  report  of  his  labors  and  suc- 
cess at  the  next  conference  was  highly  satisfactory,  and 
accordingly,  in  1800,  his  name  appears  on  the  minutes 
for  Natchez,  with  eighty  members  in  the  church. 
He  continued  in  this  country  until  his  death  in  1804. 
Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  difficulties  he 
had  to  encounter  and  the  privations  he  endured,  from 
the  fact,  that  after  traveling  six  hundred  miles,  much 
of  the  way  through  the  wilderness,  to  Cumberland 
River,  taking  his  saddle  and  traveling  equipage  into  a 
canoe,  he  paddled  himself  down  the  Cumberland  into  the 
Ohio  River,  and  thence  into  the  Mississippi,  a  distance 
of  upward  of  seven  hundred  miles  more,  to  the  town 
of  Natchez.  Four  times  he  traversed  the  wilderness, 
a  distance  of  six  hundred  miles,  being  conducted  by 
some  friendly  Indians  on  his  devious  way.  The 
burning  love  of  God  which  impelled  him  on  in  this 
work,  filled  his  mouth  with  persuasive  arguments  in 
behalf  of  the  gospel,  and  made  him  instrumental  in 
leading  many  a  wanderer  back  to  his  Father's  house. 
When  so  worn  down  by  his  excessive  labors  and  ex- 
posures, as  to  be  unable  to  pursue  his  work  with  his 
2 


1799.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,  83 

wonted  vigor,  he  came  to  the  conference,  and  so  ear- 
nestly plead  the  cause  in  behalf  of  those  people,  that 
in  1803  another,  Moses  Floyd,  was  sent  to  his  help, 
and  by  their  patient  and  indefatigable  labors  in  this 
newly  settled  country,  they  laid  a  foundation  for  the 
erection  of  that  superstructure  of  Methodism  which 
has  since  reared  itself  in  those  western  wilds. 

No  less  than  twenty-nine  preachers  located  this 
year,  and  ten  were  returned  supernumerary.  The 
following  had  died  : — 

John  N.  Jones  and  William  Wilkeison,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Virginia,  the  former  having 
traveled  eight,  and  the  latter  five  years.  They  had 
been  zealous  and  useful,  and  died  in  the  Lord. 

Hezekiah  Calvin  Wooster  also  took  his  departure 
to  another  world  this  year.  We  have  already  seen 
something  of  his  character  in  the  notice  we  have 
taken  of  the  work  of  God  in  Upper  Canada.  His 
name  is  "  like  ointment  poured  forth,"  to  many  in  that 
country,  and  he  used  to  be  spoken  of  as  an  extraor- 
dinary messenger  of  God,  sent  to  declare  his  coun- 
sels unto  a  fallen  and  rebellious  world.  After  exert- 
ing all  his  powers  of  body  and  mind  in  beseeching 
sinners  to  be  reconciled  to  God,  he  returned  home 
with  the  fatal  consumption  fastened  upon  his  lungs. 
But  even  while  in  this  feeble  state,  so  reduced  as  not 
to  be  able  to  speak  above  a  whisper,  this  whisper, 
being  announced  to  the  congregation  by  another,  was 
frequently  attended  by  such  a  divine  energy  and  unc- 
tion, that  sinners  would  tremble  and  fall  under  the  an- 
nouncement, while  the  people  of  God  felt  the  holy 
anointing  running  through  their  souls.  It  is  said, 
indeed,   that   his    very    countenance    exhibited  such 

% 


84  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1799 

marks  of  the  Divine  glory  that  it  struck  conviction 
into  the  hearts  of  many  who  beheld  it. 

"  Behold  how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth." 
Though  Hezekiah  Calvin  Wooster  could  not  be  re- 
garded as  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  talents  as  a 
preacher,  yet,  such  was  the  holy  fervor  of  his  soul, 
his  deep  devotion  to  God,  his  burning  love  for  the 
souls  of  his  fellow-men,  that  he  was  the  happy  in- 
strument of  kindling  up  such  a  fire  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  wherever  he  went,  particularly  in  Upper 
Canada,  that  all  the  waters  of  strife  and  opposition 
have  not  been  able  to  quench  it.  This  testimony  I 
consider  due  to  such  departed  worth.  The  grace  of 
God  wrought  mightily  in  him,  and  great  was  his 
glorying  in  the  cross  of  Christ — nor  did  he  glory  in 
aught  else — for  he  was  as  much  distinguished  for  his 
humility,  his  deadness  to  self,  and  to  self-applause,  as 
he  was  for  the  fervor  of  his  spirit,  the  strength  of  his 
faith,  and  the  boldness  and  pointedness  of  his  appeals 
to  the  consciences  of  the  people. 

That  he  enjoyed  "  perfect  love,"  was  demonstrated, 
not  only  from  the  fact  of  his  having  recorded  the 
time  when  he  received  this  great  blessing,"^  but 
also  and  more  especially  from  the  whole  tenor  of  his 
life,  his  constant  self-denial,  his  watchings  and  fast- 
ings, and  from  the  "  fruit  of  the  Spirit,  love,  faith, 
meekness,  patience,  gentleness,  long-suffering,  and 
charity,"  which  shone  out  conspicuously  in  all  his  de- 

*  The  following  was  found  among  his  papers  after  his 
death  : — 

"Hezekiah  Calvin  Wooster  was  born  May  20,  1771. 
Convicted  of  sin  October  9,  1791. 
Born    again    December    1,  1791. 
Sanctified      February      6,  1792." 
3 


1799.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  85 

portment,  in  the  temper  of  his  mind,  and  the  words 
of  his  lips. 

It  could  not  be  expected  otherwise  than  that  such 
a  man  should  be  prepared  to  meet  his  "  last  enemy" 
with  firmness,  and  to  "rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God,"  when  drawing  near  to  the  termination 
of  his  earthly  career.  Accordingly,  when  so  exhaust- 
ed as  to  be  scarcely  able  to  speak,  on  being  asked 
by  his  father  if  his  confidence  was  still  strong  in  the 
Lord,  he  answered  with  holy  triumph,  "  Yes,  strong  ! 
strong  !"  And  a  short  time  before  his  eyes  were 
closed  in  death,  he  said,  "  The  nearer  I  draw  to  eter- 
nity, the  brighter  heaven  shines  upon  me."  He  thus 
" fell  asleep  in  Jesus"  on  the  6th  of  November,  1798, 
in  the  28th  year  of  his  age  and  the  fifth  year  of  his 
ministry.  Though  his  race  was  short,  it  was  brilliant — 
its  brilliancy  arising  not  so  much  from  the  splendor 
of  his  talents  as  from  the  purity  of  his  motives,  the 
fidelity  of  his  private  and  public  life,  and  the  holy 
and  burning  zeal  with  which  he  pursued  his  vocation 
until  sickness  and  death  put  a  stop  to  his  activity. 
And  when  he  sunk  under  the  cloud  of  death,  he  left 
such  a  trail  of  light  behind  him,  as  shall,  it  is  humbly 
hoped,  never  be  extinguished.  Such  honor  God  puts 
upon  those  who  honor  him. 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.         Preachers. 

This  year,     49,115         12,236        61,351  272 

Last  year,     47,867         12,302        60,169  267 

Increase,  1,248   Dec.      66    In.  1,182  5 


80  A    HISTORV    OF    THE  [1800 

CHAPTER  IV. 

An  Account  of  the  General  Conference  of  1800. 

1800.  As  the  oldest  manuscript  journal  of  a  Ge- 
neral Conference  I  have  been  able  to  find  is  the  one 
for  this  year,  I  have  been  guided  thus  far  from  print- 
ed documents  only,  and  from  such  facts  as  I  have 
been  able  to  collect  from  living  witnesses.  Hereafter 
recourse  wqll  be  also  had  to  the  records  of  the  Gene- 
ral Conference  for  such  information  as  relates  to  the 
general  affairs  of  the  Church,  and  to  the  alterations 
or  additions  which  may  have  been  made  from  time  to 
time  in  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Disciphne. 

There  were  eight  annual  conferences  held  this  year, 
the  first  beginning  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  January  1, 
and  the  last  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  on  the  18th  of  July. 
But  before  we  notice  the  extension  of  the  work  in  the 
bounds  of  the  several  conferences,  and  in  the  new  set- 
tlements of  the  western  country,  we  will  detail  the 
doings  of  the  General  Conference,  which  was  held 
from  the  6th  to  the  20th  day  of  May,  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore. 

By  a  reference  to  the  journal  of  Bishop  Asbury 
for  the  year  1799,  it  will  be  perceived  that  such  was 
his  physical  debility,  originating  from  excessive 
labors,  the  multiplicity  of  his  cares,  and  his  exposures 
to  all  sorts  of  weather,  that,  though  he  continued  his 
annual  tour  of  the  continent,  he  was  able  to  preach 
but  seldom,  and  that  it  was  with  much  difficulty 
he  discharged  his  oflficial  duties  at  several  annual  con- 
ferences. In  consequence  of  this  general  debility  he 
entertained  serious  thoughts  of  resigning  the  superin- 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  87 

tendency  at  the  ensuing  General  Conference,  and 
accordingly  wrote  to  several  of  his  most  judicious 
friends  in  reference  to  it,  giving  them  information  of 
his  intention.  So  confirmed  was  he  in  the  intention 
of  resigning  his  office,  and  of  taking  a  seat  on  a  level 
with  his  brethren  in  the  conference,  that  he  had  pre- 
pared a  letter  to  that  effect,  with  a  design  to  present 
it  to  the  conference,  fully  believing  that  his  bodily 
health  was  not  adequate  to  the  discharge  of  the  mul- 
tifarious and  important  duties  of  a  superintendent. 
When  the  conference  convened,  and  the  subject  of  the 
bishop's  resignation  was  introduced,  he  informed  them 
that  in  consequence  of  bodily  infirmities,  he  had  not 
been  able  to  travel,  as  heretofore,  on  horseback,  nor 
to  preach  as  often  as  usual,  and  therefore  had  been 
obliged  to  take  with  him  a  traveling  companion,  that 
the  appointments  might  be  regularly  filled — and 
moreover  that  his  labors  were  frequently  interrupted 
for  want  of  strength  to  perform  them  regularly ;  on 
which  account  he  did  not  know  that  the  conference 
were  fully  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  he  had 
discharged  his  official  trust.  After  some  conversa- 
tion on  these  topics,  the  following  questions  and 
answers  were  unanimously  agreed  to  : — 

"  Question.  Whereas,  Mr.  Asbury  has  signified  his  in- 
tention of  resigning  his  official  station  in  our  Church  on 
account  of  his  weakness  of  body,  Avhat  is  the  sense  of  the 
conference  on  this  occasion? 

"  Answer,  1 .  The  General  Conference  consider  them- 
selves under  many  and  great  obligations  to  Mr.  Asbury  for 
the  many  and  great  services  which  he  has  rendered  to  this 
connection. 

"  2.   This  conference  do  earnestly  entreat  Mr.  Asbury 

2 


88  A    HISTORY    OF    THK  [1800. 

for  a  continuation  of  his  services  as  one  of  the  general 
superintendents  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  far 
as  his  strength  will  permit." 

This  unequivocal  expression  of  confidence  and 
afTeclion  so  satisfied  the  bishop  of  their  unabated  at- 
tachment to  him,  and  of  their  approbation  of  his  con- 
duct, that  he  told  them  in  answer,  notwithstanding 
his  feelings  led  him  still  to  decline  the  arduous  duties 
of  his  office,  yet,  as  his  general  health  was  better 
than  it  had  been,  he  was  willing  to  continue  his  ser- 
vices in  any  way  the  conference  might  think  best. 
This  matter  being  set  at  rest, 

The  next  question  which  arose  was,  whether  Dr. 
Coke,  who  was  present  as  one  of  the  presidents  of 
the  conference,  might  have  liberty  to  return  to  Europe 
in  conformity  to  an  earnest  request  of  the  British 
Conference  to  that  effect.  This  request  was  founded 
on  the  acknowledged  right  which  the  American  Con- 
ference had  to  the  exclusive  services  of  Dr.  Coke,  in 
consequence  of  the  solemn  pledge  be  had  given  them 
in  the  year  1796,"^  and  which  had  been  gratefully  ac- 
cepted by  the  American  Conference.  And  so  sacred 
was  this  obligation  considered  by  Dr.  Coke,  and  re- 
cognised by  the  British  Conference,  that  he  would 
not  consent  to  a  withdrawal  of  his  services  from  his 
American  brethren  without  their  approbation  and  con- 
sent. When,  however,  this  engagement  was  first 
made  known  to  the  brethren  in  Great  Britain,  they 
expressed  their  deep  regrets  that  the  doctor  had  thus 
deprived  them  of  his  valuable  services,  particularly  in 
the  missionary  department  of  their  work.   Accordingly. 

♦  See  Book  IV.,  Chap.  III. 


1800.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  89 

when  he  visited  the  continent  in  1797,  he  brought 
with  him  an  earnest  and  affectionate  address  from  the 
British  Conference  to  their  American  brethren,  in 
which  they  urged  the  doctor's  return  to  Europe  with 
all  practicable  speed,  as  his  presence  and  influence 
among  them  seemed  necessary  to  secure  their  peace 
and  harmony,  and  more  especially  for  the  efficient 
prosecution  of  their  missionary  enterprise,  which  was 
then  in  its  infancy.  But  as  the  engagement  of  Dr. 
Coke  was  made  with  the  General  Conference,  which 
would  not  again  assemble  until  1800,  no  official 
action  could  be  had  in  reference  to  this  subject  at  that 
time.  The  address,  however,  was  submitted  to  the 
Virginia  conference,  at  which  Dr.  Coke  was  present, 
and  the  following  letter  from  Bishop  Asbury  will 
show  the  light  in  which  the  matter  was  viewed  by 
them,  as  well  as  the  high  estimation  in  which  Dr. 
Coke  was  held  by  his  brethren  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic : — 

Respected  Fathers  and  Brethren  : — You,  in  your 
brotherly  kindness,  were  pleased  to  address  a  letter  to  us, 
your  brethren  and  friends  in  America,  expressing  your  dif- 
ficulties and  desires  concerning  our  beloved  brother  Dr. 
Coke,  that  he  might  return  to  Europe  to  heal  the  breach 
which  designing  men  have  been  making  among  you,  or 
prevent  its  threatened  overflow.  We  have  but  one  grand 
responsive  body,  which  is  our  General  Conference,  and  it 
was  in  and  to  this  body  the  doctor  entered  his  obligations 
to  serve  his  brethren  in  America.  No  yearly  conference, 
no  official  character  dare  assume  to  answer  for  that  grand 
federal  body. 

"  By  the  advice  of  the  yearly  conference  now  sitting  in 
Virginia,  and  the  respect  I  bear  to  you,  I  write  to  inform 

2 


90  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1800. 

you  that  in  our  own  persons  and  order  we  consent  to  his 
return,  and  partial  continuance  with  you,  and  earnestly 
pray  that  you  may  have  much  peace,  union,  and  happi- 
ness together.  May  you  find  that  your  divisions  end  in  a 
greater  union,  order,  and  harmony  of  the  body,  so  that  the 
threatened  cloud  may  blow  over,  and  your  divisive  party 
may  be  of  as  little  consequence  to  you,  as  ours  is  to  us. 

"  With  respect  to  the  doctor's  returning  to  us,  I  leave 
your  enlarged  understandings  and  good  sense  to  judge. 
You  will  see  the  number  of  souls  upon  our  annual  minutes, 
and  as  men  of  reading,  you  may  judge  over  what  a  vast 
continent  these  societies  are  scattered.  I  refer  you  to  a 
large  letter  I  wrote  our  beloved  brother  Bradburn  on  the 
subject. 

"  By  a  probable  guess,  we  have,  perhaps,  from  1 ,000  to 
1,200  traveling  and  local  preachers.  Local  preachers  are 
daily  rising  up  and  coming  forward  with  proper  recommend- 
ations from  their  respective  societies,  to  receive  ordina- 
tion, besides  the  regulation  and  ordinations  of  the  yearly 
conferences.  From  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  where 
the  conference  was  held,  to  the  province  of  Maine,  where 
another  conference  is  to  be  held,  there  is  a  space  of  about 
1,300  miles;  and  we  have  only  one  worn-out  superintend- 
ent, who  was  this  day  advised  by  the  yearly  conference 
to  desist  from  preaching  till  next  spring,  on  account  of  his 
debilitated  state  of  body.  But  the  situation  of  our  affairs 
requires  that  he  should  travel  about  five  thousand  miles  a 
year,  through  many  parts  unsettled,  and  other  thinly  peopled 
countries.  I  have  now  with  me  an  assistant  who  does 
every  thing  for  me  he  constitutionally  can  :  but  the  ordain- 
ing and  stationing  the  preachers  can  only  be  performed  by 
myself  in  the  doctor's  absence. 

"  We  have  to  lament  that  our  superintendency  is  so 
weak,  and  that  it  cannot  constitutionally  be  strengthened 
till  the  ensuing  General  Conference.  How  I  have  felt 
3 


1800.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  91 

and  must  feel,  under  such  critical  and  important  circum- 
stances, I  leave  you  to  judge. 

"  To  write  much  on  the  subject  would  be  imposing  on 
my  own  weakness  and  your  good  understanding.  I  speak 
as  unto  wise  men  ;  judge  what  I  say. 

"  Wishing  you  great  peace  and  spiritual  prosperity,  I 
remain  your  brother,  your  friend,  your  servant  for  Christ's 
sake,  Francis  Asbury." 

In  conformity  with  the  permission  given  in  this  let 
ler  for  his  absence  from  America  for  a  short  season 
only,  after  remaining  for  a  while  and  assisting  Bishop 
Asbury,  Dr.  Coke  returned  to  Europe,  and  was  use- 
fully employed  in  visiting  the  societies  in  various 
parts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  particularly  in  Ireland 
during  a  rebeUion  which  broke  out  in  1798,  in  which 
he  was  successful  in  his  attempts  to  shield  the  Me- 
thodist preachers  from  all  blame, — until  the  session  of 
this  General  Conference,  when  he  appeared  to  fulfil 
his  engagements  with  his  American  brethren,  or  be 
honorably  released.  After  deliberating  for  some  time 
upon  the  request  of  the  British  Conference  for  Dr. 
Coke's  return,  the  following  resolution  was  concurred 
in  : — 

"  That  in  compliance  with  the  address  of  the  British 
Conference,  to  let  Dr.  Coke  return  to  Europe,  this  Gene- 
ral Conference  consent  to  his  return,  upon  condition  that 
he  come  back  to  America  as  soon  as  his  business  will 
allow,  but  certainly  by  the  next  General  Conference  " 

In  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  this  resolution,  the 
conference  addressed  their  British  brethren  in  the 
words  following  : — 

"  We  have  considered,  with  the  greatest  attention,  the 

2 


9*2  A   HISTORY   OK   THE  [1800 

request  you  have  made  for  the  doctor's  return  to  Europe  ; 
and  after  revolving  the  subject  deeply  in  our  minds,  and 
spending  part  of  two  days  in  debating  thereon,  we  still  feel 
an  ardent  desire  for  his  continuance  in  America.  This 
arises  from  the  critical  state  of  Bishop  Asbury's  health,  the 
extension  of  our  work,  our  affection  for,  and  approbation  of 
the  doctor,  and  his  probable  usefulness,  provided  he  con- 
tinue with  us.  We  wish  to  detain  him,  as  we  greatly 
need  his  services.  But  the  statement  you  have  laid  before 
us  in  your  address,  of  the  success  of  the  West  India  mis- 
sions under  his  superintendence,  the  arduous  attempt  to 
carry  the  gospel  among  the  native  Irish  requiring  his  in- 
fluence and  support,  and  the  earnest  request  you  have 
added  to  this  representation ;  '  believing  it  to  be  for  the 
glory  of  God,'  hath  turned  the  scale  at  present  in  your 
favor.  We  have,  therefore,  in  compliance  with  your 
request,  lent  the  doctor  to  you  for  a  season  to  return  to  us 
as  soon  as  he  conveniently  can,  but  at  farthest  by  the  meet- 
ing of  our  next  General  Conference. 

"  Signed  by  order  and  in  the  behalf  of  the  General  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America, 

"  Francis  Asbury, 
"  Richard  Whatcoat. 
Baltimore,  May  9,  1800." 

Having  thus  consented  to  a  partial  release  of  Dr. 
Coke  from  his  engagements,  the  next  important  de- 
sideratum was  how  to  supply  his  lack  of  service. 
The  debilitated  state  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and  the  great 
extension  of  the  work  in  almost  every  direction,  render- 
ed it  next  to  impossible  for  him  to  supply  the  wants 
of  the  Church  in  its  superintendency,  or  to  sustain 
the  interests  of  the  itinerancy  in  its  various  departments 
of  labor.  After  a  full  consideration  of  this  subject,  it 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  93 

was  finally  agreed  that  another  bishop  should  be 
elected  and  consecrated  at  this  conference. 

Before,  however,  the  conference  went  into  the  elec- 
tion, considerable  conversation  was  had  respecting  the 
powers  of  the  new  bishop,  some  contending  that  ho, 
should  be  considered  only  as  an  assistant,  and,  in  the 
absence  of  his  principal,  should  have  power  to  station 
the  preachers,  only  with  the  advice  and  concurrence 
of  a  committee  appointed  by  an  annual  conference. 
The  views,  however,  of  those  prevailed  who  thought 
he  should  be  every  way  equal  in  power  with  his  senior 
in  office,  both  as  respected  presiding  in  the  conferences, 
ordaining  and  stationing  the  preachers,  and  the  gene- 
ral superintendency  of  the  work. 

This  point  being  settled,  they  proceeded  to  ballot 
for  a  bishop.  On  the  first  count  there  appeared  a  tie 
between  Richard  Whatcoat  and  Jesse  Lee.  On  the 
second  balloting  there  were  fifty-nine  votes  for  Rich- 
ard Whatcoat,  and  fifty-five  for  Jesse  Lee,  on  which 
Mr.  Whatcoat  was  declared  to  be  duly  elected.  Ac- 
cordingly on  the  18th  of  May  he  was  consecrated  as 
a  joint  superintendent  with  Bishop  Asbury,  by  prayer 
and  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  Bishops  Coke  and 
Asbury,  assisted  by  some  of  the  elders. 

Mr.  Whatcoat  was  one  of  tlie  preachers  who  was 
ordained  a  deacon  and  elder  by  Mr.  Wesley,  and 
accompanied  Dr.  Coke  to  America  in  1784.  He 
was  born  in  England  in  the  year  1736,  and  brought 
up  under  the  influence  of  a  religious  education,  by 
which  he  was  saved  from  those  vicious  practices  to 
which  many  youth  are  addicted.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  was  made  a  partaker  of  the  witness, 
and  immediately  brought  forth  the  fruits  of  the  Holy 

2 


94  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800 

Spirit.  In  1769  he  entered  as  a  probationer  into  the 
itinerant  connection  of  Wesleyan  Methodist  preachers, 
then  under  tiie  superintendence  of  Mr.  Wesley.  In 
this  work  he  continued  a  faithful  laborer,  much  be- 
loved and  respected  by  the  people  and  confided  in  by 
his  coadjutors  in  this  work,  until  he  embarked  for 
America,  then  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age.  He  was, 
of  course,  one  of  those  who  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  our  Church  at  the  Christmas  conference,  and 
was  highly  distinguished  for  the  meekness  and  quiet- 
ness of  his  spirit,  as  well  as  the  prudence  of  his  con- 
duct, and  the  exemplariness  of  his  deportment.  From 
the  time  of  this  conference  until  his  election  to  the 
office  of  a  bishop,  he  had,  with  the  exception  of  three 
years,  discharged  the  duties  of  presiding  elder,  which, 
in  those  days  especially,  required  labors  and  privations 
of  no  ordinary  character,  as  both  the  districts  and 
circuits  were  large,  the  people  in  general  poor,  and 
the  calls  for  preaching  numerous,  and  often  far  apart. 
In  the  fulfilment  of  his  duties  in  this  station,  he  gave, 
it  is  believed,  general  satisfaction,  and  acquired  the 
confidence  and  affection  of  both  preachers  and  people. 
Those,  indeed,  who  withheld  their  votes  from  him 
were  actuated  more  from  a  conviction,  it  is  said,  of  his 
lack  of  those  peculiar  talents  which  seemed  essential 
for  the  office  of  a  bishop,  than  from  any  want  of  con- 
fidence in  either  the  depth  of  his  piety,  or  measure  of 
his  prudence  ;  and  also  from  that  kindred  feeling  for 
his  competitor,  who  had  been  raised  among  themselves 
as  an  American  preacher,  and  would  therefore,  as 
they  thought,  more  familiarly  enter  into  their  feelings 
and  views.  To  both  the  candidates,  the  Church  had 
awarded  the  merit  of  sharing  her  confidence  and 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  95 

affection,  as  having  been  many  years  distinguished  for 
their  pious  zeal  and  indefatigable  labors,  as  well  as 
for  their  wisdom  and  consistency  of  conduct  in  council. 
But  the  manner  in  which  Richard  Whatcoat  fulfilled 
the  high  trust  confided  to  him,  fully  justified  the  wis- 
dom of  the  conference  in  selecting  him  as  one  of  their 
superintendents ;  for  no  man  ever  furnished  more 
satisfactory  evidence  of  his  entire  devotion  to  God,  and 
of  his  unwavering  attachment  to  the  interests  of  reli- 
gion, than  Bishop  Whatcoat  did  from  the  time  of  his 
consecration  to  his  ofiice  till  the  day  of  his  death. 
His  meekness  and  modesty,  his  gravity  and  dignity 
of  deportment,  pointed  him  out  as  a  fair  sample  for  a 
primitive  bishop,  in  whose  integrity  all  could  confide  as 
a  father  and  a  friend,  and  his  subsequent  life  justified 
the  wisdom  of  the  selection. 

Hitherto  the  allowance  of  a  traveling  preacher  had 
been  sixty-four  dollars  a  year  and  his  traveling  ex- 
penses. At  this  conference  it  was  raised  to  eighty, 
and  the  same  for  his  wife  or  widow,  sixteen  dollars 
a  year  for  each  child  under  seven  years  of  age, 
and  twenty-four  dollars  for  those  over  seven  and 
under  fourteen  years.  The  same  provision  was 
made  for  supernumerary  and  superannuated  preachers, 
their  wives,  widows,  and  orphans ;  and  so  it  remained 
until  the  General  Conference  of  1816,  when  the 
salary  of  the  preachers,  their  wives  and  widows,  was 
raised  to  one  hundred  dollars  a  year — the  allowance 
for  children  remaining  the  same  as  heretofore. 

In  order  to  meet  the  increased  demands  for  the 
support  of  the  ministry,  in  addition  to  the  class  and 
quarterly  collections,  and  the  avails  of  the  Book  Con- 
cern, the   money  received  for  celebrating  the  rite  of 


^  A    HISTORY    OF    THK  [1800. 

matrimony  was  to  be  brought  to  the  conference,  to- 
gether with  the  income  of  the  Chartered  Fund,  and 
what  might  be  raised  in  pubUc  collections  on  the  cir- 
cuits and  at  the  sessions  of  the  conferences. 

Among  the  rules  adopted  at  the  conference  of  1784, 
was  one  requiring  every  preacher,  when  admitted  into 
the  traveling  ministry,  to  pay  two  dollars  sixty-seven 
cents,  and  by  a  subsequent  rule  every  member  of  the 
conference  was  to  pay  two  dollars  annually.  This 
was  to  constitute  a  fund  for  the  support  of  worn-out 
preachers,  widows,  and  orphans.  At  the  present 
conference  it  was  ordered  that  this  money  should  be 
appropriated  to  make  up  the  deficiencies,  together 
with  any  surplus  which  might  remain  in  the  hands  of 
the  stewards,  after  paying  off  the  allowance  of  the 
preachers  on  the  circuits. 

On  the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Coke,  who  always 
manifested  a  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
preachers  and  their  families,  those  rules  were  adopted 
by  this  conference  which  recommend  to  the  people 
to  provide  for  each  circuit  a  parsonage,  "  furnished 
at  least  with  heavy  furniture,"  or  otherwise  to  "  rent 
a  house  for  the  married  preacher  and  his  family,  and 
that  the  annual  conferences  assist  to  make  up  the  rent 
of  such  houses,  as  far  as  they  can,  when  the  circuit 
cannot  do  it." 

The  rule  for  the  trial  of  accused  members  was 
amended  at  this  conference,  so  that  the  members  be- 
fore whom  the  delinquent  was  brought  for  trial 
were  to  judge  of  his  innocence  or  guilt,  according 
to  the  weight  of  evidence  adduced ;  and  also,  that 
if  the  preacher  who  sat  as  judge  in  the  case  should 
dissent  from  the  decision  of  the  committee,  he  had 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  §7 

the  privilege  of  an  appeal  to  the  quarterly  meeting 
conference. 

The  rule  requiring  preachers  to  give  an  account  of 
private  donations  from  their  friends  was  at  this  con- 
ference rescinded. 

In  fixing  the  boundaries  of  the  annual  conferences, 
the  number  of  which  were  to  be  seven,  the  New- 
England  and  New-York  received  their  respective 
bounds  as  separate  and  distinct  conferences. 

Hitherto  no  special  provision  had  been  made  for  the 
support  of  the  bishops,  they  having  had  their  temporal 
wants  supplied  by  private  benefactions,  and  from  par- 
ticular societies  ;  but  at  this  conference,  and  it  has 
been  a  standing  regulation  ever  since,  it  was  ordered 
that  each  annual  conference  should  pay  its  proportion 
toward  their  support.  And  that  the  annual  conferences 
might  feel  a  measure  of  responsibility  to  the  General 
Conference  for  their  acts  and  doings,  they  were 
required  by  a  resolution  of  this  conference  to  keep 
and  send  records  of  their  proceedings  to  the  General 
Conference  that  they  might  be  inspected. 

It  was  also  resolved  that  no  preacher  should  here- 
after have  a  seat  in  the  General  Conference,  unless  he 
had  traveled  four  years,  and  was  in  full  connection  at 
the  time. 

The  bishops  were  authorized  to  ordain  those  Afri- 
can preachers,  in  the  places  where  there  were  houses 
of  worship  for  their  use,  who  might  be  chosen  by  a 
majority  of  the  male  members  of  the  society  to  which 
they  belonged,  and  could  procure  a  recommendation 
from  the  preacher  in  charge  and  his  colleagues  on  the 
circuit,  to  the  office  of  local  deacons.  The  rule 
granting  this   authority   was  not  incorporated   among 

Vol.  II.— 6 


©8  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800. 

the  printed  regulations  of  the  Discipline,  but  by  a 
vote  of  the  conference  was  only  to  stand  on  its 
records.  Richard  Allen,  of  Philadelphia,  was  the  first 
colored  man  who  received  orders  under  this  rule 
Since  that  time,  however,  many  in  different  places 
have  been  elected  and  consecrated,  and  since  the 
General  Conference  of  1812,  when  the  bishops 
were  authorized  to  ordain  local  deacons  to  the  office 
of  elders,  after  four  years'  probation  as  deacons, 
several  have  been  ordained  elders. 

After  passing  these  resolutions,  and  making  sundry 
verbal  alterations  in  the  Discipline,  not  necessary  to 
be  particularly  noticed,  the  conference  adjourned  on 
the  20th  day  of  May  to  meet  again  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore,  on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1804. 


CHAPTER  V. 

From  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  of  1800,  to  the  end  of   the 
year  1803. 

Having,  in  the  preceding  chapter,  detailed  the  do- 
ings of  the  General  Conference  of  1800,  we  will 
return  to  the  annual  conferences,  and  endeavor  to  give 
an  account  of  the  work  of  God  in  the  various  parts  of 
their  extensive  fields  of  labor.  This  year  arid  the 
two  following  were  eminently  distinguished  for  the 
outpouring  of  the  vSpirit  of  God,  and  the  enlargement 
of  his  work  in  various  directions.  The  heavens  and 
the  earth,  indeed,  appeared  to  be  shaken  by  the 
mighty  power  of  God,  and  very  many  sinners  were 
brousht  to  feel  their  need  of  Christ,  to  seek  and  to 
find  him  as  their  only  Saviour. 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  99 

It  seems  that  during  the  session  of  the  General 
Conference  much  good  had  been  done  by  the  pubhc 
and  private  labors  of  the  preachers  ;  and  as  they  sepa- 
rated with  much  harmony  of  feehng,  the  Spirit  of 
God  wrought  by  their  means  in  many  of  the  places 
where  they  were  stationed  the  present  year. 

During  the  conference,  a  work  of  God  commenced 
m  that  section  of  Baltimore  called  Old  Town.  Meet- 
ings were  held  here  in  private  houses,  which  were 
attended  by  some  of  the  preachers  when  not  engaged 
in  the  business  of  the  conference,  by  which  means 
several  souls  were  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth.  From  this  beginning,  the  work  spread  in  dif- 
ferent directions  through  the  city,  in  the  churches  as 
well  as  in  private  houses.  Such  a  glorious  work 
had  not  been  seen  in  Baltimore  for  several  years,  and 
the  old  professors  were  much  excited  and  encouraged 
at  beholding  their  children  and  neighbors  coming  into 
the  fold  of  Christ. 

About  two  weeks  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
General  Conference,  an  annual  conference  was  held  at 
Duck  Creek  Cross  Roads,  where  many  of  the  young 
converts,  and  some  of  the  more  experienced  Christians 
from  Baltimore,  came  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the 
meetings.  Here  the  Lord  wrought  powerfully. 
While  the  members  of  the  conference  were  transact- 
ing their  business  in  a  private  house,  some  of  the 
younger  traveling  and  some  local  preachers  were 
almost  constantly  engaged  in  preaching  to  the  peo- 
ple, exhorting  and  praying  with  them  ;  and  such  was 
the  intenseness  with  which  they  pursued  their  work, 
that  at  the  church,  the  meeting  was  held  without  in- 

2 


100  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800 

I 

lermission  for  forty-five  hours."^  Often,  during  these 
meetings,  the  voice  of  the  preacher  was  drowned 
either  by  the  cries  of  the  distressed  or  the  shouts  of 
the  redeemed. 

As  these  effects  were  new  to  many,  they  at  first 
looked  on  with  silent  astonishnnent,  until,  before  they 
were  fully  aware  of  it,  both  saints  and  sinners  would 
be  seized  with  a  shaking  and  trembling,  and  finally 
prostrated  helpless  upon  the  ,floor.  The  result  of 
these  exercises  was,  that  not  less  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  souls  were  converted  to  God  during  the  ses- 
sion of  the  conference.  Such  a  time  of  "  refreshing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord"  had  never  before 
been  witnessed  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

Frona  this  the  work  spread  with  great  rapidity 
through  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  and  into  the 
lower  counties  of  the  state  of  Delaware,  bowing,  in 
its  course,  the  hearts  of  many  stubborn  sinners,  who 
were  brought  to  God  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  Both 
preachers  and  people,  in  whose  hearts  the  fire  of  Di- 
vine love  had  been  kindled  at  these  meetings,  carried 
the  sacred  flame  with  them  wherever  they  went,  and 
thousands  have  doubtless  praised  God  and  are  now 
praising  him  for  the  consolations  of  that  blessed  revival 
of  godliness.  It  continued,  indeed,  to  extend  its  hallow- 
ing influence  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  and  in 
some  other  places,  through  the  remainder  of  the  summer. 

As  the  result  of  this  glorious  work  in  the  little 
village  of  Duck  Creek,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  persons  joined  the  Church. 

*  Here,   then,  vv^as  a  protracted  meeting  held  long  before 
those  which  have  been  more  recently  established  among  us  and 
some  other  denominations. 
2 


1800.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  101 

Nor  was  the  revival  confined  to  this  part  of  the 
country.  In  Philadelphia,  in  various  circuits  in  the 
vicinity  of  Baltimore,  in  the  state  of  Vermont,  in 
some  portions  of  Canada,  Connecticut,  and  New- 
Hampshire,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  poured  out, 
and  many,  very  many,  sinners  were  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth.  It  seems,  indeed,  that  most 
of  the  preachers  had  received  a  new  baptism  of  the 
Holy  Spirit — like  that  which  had  been  showered  upon 
Calvin  Wooster,  and  others  in  Canada,  the  preceding 
year;  and  wherever  they  went  they  carried  the  holy 
fire  with  them,  and  God  wrought  wonders  by  their 
instrumentality.  But  the  most  remarkable  work  was 
going  on  in  the  western  country. 

Last  year,  1799,  was  distinguished  for  the  com- 
mencement of  those  great  revivals  of  religion  in  the 
western  country,  which  introduced  the  practice  of 
holding  "  camp  meetings.''^  And  as  these  revivals 
were  characterized  by  signal  displays  of  the  power 
and  grace  of  God,  and  eventuated  in  the  conversion 
of  thousands  of  souls,  it  will  naturally  be  expected 
that  a  particular  account  should  be  given  of  their  rise 
and  progress. 

This  work  commenced  under  the  united  labors  of  two 
brothers  by  the  name  of  M' Gee,  one  a  Presbyterian  and 
the  other  a  Methodist  preacher.  The  former,  who  had 
preached  for  some  time  in  North  Carolina  and  in  the 
Holston  country,  moved  into  West  Tennessee  in  the 
year  1796  or  1797,  and  in  1798  was  settled  over  a 
congregation  in  Sumner  county.  In  the  year  1798, 
the  latter,  John  M^Gee,  moved  into  West  Tennessee, 
and  settled  in  Smith  county.  Though  belonging  to 
different  denominations,  those  doctrines  and  usages  by 

2 


IQI9  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800 

which  each  was  distinguished  from  the  other  by-  no 
means  interrupted  the  harmony  of  brotherly  love. 
Hence  they  cordially  united  in  their  meetings,  and 
strengthened  each  other's  hands  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
In  the  year  1799  they  set  off  on  a  tour  through 
what  was  called  the  "  Barrens,"  toward  the  state  of 
Ohio,  and  on  their  way  they  stopped  at  a  settlement 
on  the  Red  River,  to  attend  a  sacramental  occasion 
in  the  congregation  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  M^Greadi/j  a  Presbyterian  minister.  On 
being  introduced  to  him,  Mr.  John  M'Gee  was  invited 
to  preach,  with  which  he  complied  ;  and  he  preached 
with  great  liberty  and  power.  He  was  followed  by 
his  brother,  the  Presbyterian  minister,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hoge,  whose  preaching  produced  such  a  power- 
ful effect  that  tears  in  abundance  attested  that  the 
people  felt  the  force  of  the  truths  delivered.  While 
Mr.  Hoge  was  preaching,  a  woman  in  the  congrega- 
tion was  so  powerfully  wrought  upon  that  she  broke 
through  all  restraint,  and  shouted  forth  the  praises  of 
God  aloud.  Such  was  the  movement  among  the 
people,  evidently  under  the  impulses  of  the  divine 
Spirit,  that,  though  Messrs.  M'Gready,  Hoge,  and 
Rankins,  Presbyterian  ministers,  left  the  house,  the 
two  yokefellows,  the  M'Gees,  continued  in  their  places 
watching  the  "  movement  of  the  waters."  William 
M'Gee  soon  felt  such  a  power  come  over  him  that  he, 
not  seeming  to  know  what  he  did,  left  his  seat  and 
sat  down  on  the  floor,  while  John  sat  trembling  under 
a  consciousness  of  the  power  of  God.  In  the  mean- 
time there  were  great  solemnity  and  weeping  all  over 
the  house.  He  was  expected  to  preach,  but  instead 
of  that  he  arose  and  told  the  people  that  the  overpow- 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  103 

erJUg  nature  of  his  feelings  would  not  allow  of  his 
preaching,  but  as  the  Lord  was  evidently  among 
them,  he  earnestly  exhorted  the  people  to  surrender 
their  hearts  to  him.  Sobs  and  cries  bespoke  the 
deep  feehng  which  pervaded  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

This  great  and  unusual  work  so  excited  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  that  they  came  in  crowds  from  the 
surrounding  country,  to  inquire  what  these  things 
meant ;  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  that  great 
revival  of  religion  in  the  western  country  which  intro- 
duced ''camp  meetings.''^  The  people  came  with  horses 
and  wagons,  bringing  provisions  and  bedding,  and 
others  built  temporary  huts  or  tents,  while  all,  Pres- 
byterians, Baptists,  and  Methodists,  united  together  in 
prayer,  exhortation,  and  preaching,  exerting  all  their 
energies  to  forward  this  good  work. 

The  good  effects  resulting  from  this  meeting,  thus 
casually,  or  rather  providentially  convened,  induced 
them  to  appoint  another  on  Muddy  River,  and  then 
another  on  what  was  called  the  Ridge.  Here  a  vast 
concourse  of  people  assembled  under  the  fohage  of 
the  trees,  and  continued  their  religious  exercises  day 
and  night.  This  novel  way  of  worshiping  God  ex- 
cited great  attention.  In  the  night  the  grove  was 
illuminated  with  lighted  candles,  lamps,  or  torches. 
This,  together  with  the  stillness  of  the  night,  the 
solemnity  which  rested  on  every  countenance,  the 
pointed  and  earnest  manner  with  which  the  preachers 
exhorted  the  people  to  repentance,  prayer,  and  faith, 
produced  the  most  awful  sensations  in  the  minds  of 
all  present.  While  some  were  exhorting,  others  cry- 
ing for  mercy,  and  some  shouting  the  praises  of  God 
in  the   assembly,  numbers  were  retired  in    secluded 

2 


104  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  II8OO. 

places  in  the  grove,  pouring  out  the  desire  of  tlTeir 
wounded  spirits  in  earnest  prayer.  It  often  happened 
that  these  were  liberated  from  their  sins,  and  their 
hearts  filled  with  joy  and  gladness  while  thus  engaged 
in  their  solitary  devotions  ;  and  then  they  would  come 
into  the  encampment  and  declare  what  God  had  done 
for  their  souls.  This  information,  communicated  to 
their  brethren  in  the  artless  simplicity  of  "  new-born 
souls,"  would  produce  a  thrill  of  joy  which  could  hard- 
ly be  suppressed :  and  thus  they  reciprocated  with 
each  other  in  their  sorrows  and  joys,  and  excited  one 
another  to  the  exercise  of  faith  in  the  promises  of 
God,  and  to  perseverance  in  the  good  work. 

The  result  of  this  last  m.eeting  was,  according  to 
the  best  estimate  which  could  be  made,  the  conversion 
of  not  less  than  one  hundred  souls. 

A  still  greater  meeting  of  the  same  character  was 
held  soon  after  on  Desha's  Creek,  near  the  Cumber- 
land River.  Among  the  many  thousands  of  people 
who  attended  this  extraordinary  meeting,  many,  very 
many,  were  made  partakers  of  the  grace  of  life.  It 
is  said  by  an  eye  witness,"^  who  himself  largely 
participated  in  these  solemn  exercises,  that  at  these 
meetings  the  people  fell  under  the  power  of  the  word, 
"  like  corn  before  a  storm  of  wind,"  and  that  many 
who  were  thus  slain,  "  arose  from  the  dust  with  di- 
vine glory  beaming  upon  their  countenances,"  and 
then  praised  God  in  such  strains  of  heartfelt  gratitude 
as  caused  the  hearts  of  sinners  to  tremble  within 
them.  But  no  sooner  did  this  first  feehng  of  ecstasy 
subside   than  those  young  converts  began  to  exhort 

*  The  Rev.  John  M'Gee,  from  whom  much  of  this  account 
is  taken. 
2 


1800J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  105 

their  relatives  and  neighbors  to  turn  to  God  and  Hve. 
And  truly  it  was  difficult  to  resist  the  power  of  their 
words,  for  they  spoke  of  what  they  felt,  and  their 
words  were  sharper  than  a  "  two-edged  sword," 
piercing  the  heart,  and  extorting  the  cry,  "  What  shall 
I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 

Many  of  these  were  children  of  praying  parents, 
and  though  uneducated,  they  spoke  with  a  power  and 
eloquence  which  "  confounded  the  wisdom  of  the 
learned,"  and  extorted  the  confession  from  many  an 
unhumbled  pharisee,  that  "  God  was  with  them  of  a 
truth." 

Among  others  who  were  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth  at  this  meeting,  was  John  Alexandei' 
Granade,  who  after  an  exercise  of  mind  for  a  consi- 
derable time  bordering  on  despair,  came  forth  a 
"  burning  and  shining  light,"  as  a  public  advocate 
for  the  cause  of  Christ.  He  soon  became  distinguish- 
ed among  his  brethren  as  the  "  western  poet,"  and 
the  "  Pilgrims'  Songs"  were  among  the  most  popular 
hymns  which  were  sung  at  those  camp  meetings,  and 
perhaps  became  the  fruitful  source  whence  sprung 
the  numerous  ditties  with  which  the  Church  was,  for 
some  time,  almost  deluged.  These  songs,  though 
they  possessed  but  little  of  the  spirit  of  poetry,  and 
therefore  added  nothing  to  true  intellectual  taste, 
served  to  excite  the  feelings  of  devotion,  and  keep 
alive  that  spirit  of  excitement  which  characterized  the 
worshipers  in  those  assemblies.  Both  Granade  and 
Caleb  Jarvis  Taylor  contributed  much  by  their  ener- 
getic labors  to  fan  the  flame  of  piety  which  had  been 
kindled  up  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  in  that  country. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  these  meetings  went 
5^  2 


106  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800 

on  without  opposition.  This  would  be  calculating  too 
favorably  of  human  nature  in  its  present  state  of  moral 
perversity.  Not  only  the  openly  profane,  the  non- 
professor  of  godliness,  but  many  of  those  who  "  had  a 
name  to  live,  but  were  dead,"  as  well  as  some  whose 
piety  was  unquestionable,  looked  on  these  meetings 
and  beheld  these  strange  exercises  with  mingled  emo- 
tions of  pity  and  abhorrence.  The  natural  enmity  of 
the  carnal  mind,  in  the  first,  mingled  with  the  pride 
of  philosophy  of  the  second,  and  the  prejudices  of  re- 
ligious education,  alloyed  with  some  portion  of  religious 
bigotry  in  the  third,  created,  altogether,  a  formidable 
array  of  opposition,  which  showed  itself  in  all  the 
variety  of  ways  which  the  peculiarity  of  views  and 
feelings  in  the  above  characters  might  dictate.  Some 
would  scoff,  others  would  philosophize,  while  the  lat- 
ter would  dogmatize  in  no  stinted  terms  of  religious 
intolerance,  while  they  beheld  those  manifestations  of 
what  the  friends  of  the  cause  justly  believed  to  be  the 
power  and  grace  of  God. 

But  there  was  one  argument  which  silenced  them 
all.  Often  those  very  persons  who  were  most  violent 
in  their  opposition,  most  vociferous  in  their  hard 
speeches  against  what  they  denominated  "  wild  fire," 
would  become  so  warmed  by  its  heat,  that  their  hearts 
were  melted  within  them,  and  "  falling  down  on  their 
faces,  they  would  worship  God,  and  report  that  God 
was  in  them  of  a  truth."  This  argument  was  irre- 
sistible. It  was  demonstration.  And  many  such 
were  presented  during  the  progress  of  these  meetings. 
In  such  cases,  those  who  before  had  been  blasphe- 
mers, and  mockers,  persecutors,  and  bigoted  dogma- 
tizers,  were  not  only  struck  dumb,  but  the  "  tongue 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  107 

of  the  dumb  was   made  to  sing,"  and  those   very   op 
posers  of  the  work  became  the  living  witnesses  for  its 
divine  and  genuine   character,  and   stood  forth   as  its 
bold  and  fearless  defenders. 

In  the  meantime  the  numbers  attending  these  meet- 
ings were  continually  increased, — some  from  a  sincere 
desire  to  be  benefited  ;  others  were  attracted  from 
.curiosity,  and  not  a  few  from  motives  of  speculation, 
to  arm  themselves  with  arguments  of  resistance  to 
their  progress.  What  tended  not  a  little  to  give  them 
notoriety,  and  to  excite  the  public  attention  toward 
them,  was,  the  newspapers  of  the  day  were  teeming 
with  accounts  of  these  camp  meetings,  some  in  favor 
and  some  against  them — and  all,  whether  friends  or 
foes,  were  eager  to  gratify  their  curiosities,  or  benefit 
their  souls,  by  becoming  eye  and  ear  witnesses  of  the 
manner  in  which  they  were  conducted. 

Accordingly,  in  1801  the  numbers  who  attended 
those  which  were  held  in  Kentucky  were  immense, 
some  as  occasional  visitors,  and  others  as  residents  on 
the  ground  through  the  progress  of  the  meetings. 
The  numbers  varied,  of  course,  according  to  the  den- 
sity or  sparsity  of  the  population  in  their  immediate 
neighborhoods ;  and  they  have  been  estimated  from 
three  to  twenty  thousand.  At  one  held  in  Cabbin 
Creek  a  Presbyterian  minister  who  was  present,  and 
zealously  engaged  in  promoting  its  objects,  estimated 
the  number  at  not  less  than  twenty  thousand. 

Though  at  this  meeting  the  Methodists  appeared  to 
be  the  most  actively  engaged  in  the  work,  yet  some 
of  the  Presbyterian  brethren  engaged  heartily  with  them, 
while  others  stood  aloof,  not  knowing  what  judgment 
to  form  of  it.      Being,  however,  encouraged   by  the 

2 


108  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800. 

example  of  others,  many  of  them  united  with  zealous 
hearts  in  the  cause,  and  at  this  great  meeting  the 
Methodists  and  Presbyterians  joined  their  forces  to 
push  forward  the  work,  and  they  seemed  to  bear 
down  all  opposition.  The  scene  is  represented  as 
being    indescribably    awful !      An    eye   witness    thus 


"  Few,  if  any,  escaped  without  being  affected.  Such  as 
tried  to  run  from  it,  were  frequently  struck  on  the  way,  or 
impelled  by  some  alarming  signal  to  return.  No  circum- 
stance at  this  meeting  appeared  more  striking  than  the 
great  numbers  that  fell  on  the  third  night ;  and  to  prevent 
their  being  trodden  under  foot  by  the  multitude,  they  were 
collected  together  and  laid  out  in  order,  or  on  two  squares 
of  the  meeting  house,  till  a  considerable  part  of  the  floor 
was  covered.  But  the  great  meeting  at  Caneridge  ex- 
ceeded all.  The  number  that  fell  at  this  meeting  was 
reckoned  at  about  three  thousand,  among  whom  were 
several  Presbyterian  ministers,  who,  according  to  their  own 
confession,  had  hitherto  possessed  only  a  speculative 
knowledge  of  religion.  Here  the  formal  professor,  the 
deist,  and  the  intemperate,  met  with  one  common  lot,  and 
confessed,  with  equal  candor,  that  they  were  destitute  of  the 
true  knowledge  of  God,  and  strangers  to  the  religion  of 
Tesus  Christ." 

In  consequence  of  such  a  vast  assemblage  of  peo- 
ple, it  was  impossible  for  any  one  voice  to  reach  the 
whole  of  them  with  intelligible  language  :  hence  they 
were  divided  into  several  groups,  and  addressed  by  as 
many  different  speakers,  while  the  whole  grove,  at 
times,  became  vocal  with  the  praises  of  God,  and  at 
other  times  pierced  with  the  cries  of  distressed  peni- 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  109 

tent  sinners.  As  before  said,  the  scene  was  pecu- 
liarly awful  at  night.  The  range  of  the  tents — the 
fires  reflecting  lights  through  the  branches  of  the 
trees — the  candles  and  lamps  illuminating  the  entire 
encampment — hundreds  of  immortal  beings  moving 
to  and  fro — some  preaching — some  praying  for 
mercy,  and  others  praising  God  from  a  sense  of  his 
pardoning  mercy — all  these  things  presented  a  scene 
indescribably  awful  and  affecting. 

As  an  instance  of  the  manner  in  which  some  of 
those  who  attended  these  meetings  from  a  sportive 
disposition  were  arrested  and  brought  to  a  better  state 
of  mind,  the  following  is  related  : — A  gentleman  and 
a  lady,  of  some  standing  in  the  gay  circles  of  life, 
attended  the  above  meeting  with  a  view  to  divert  and 
amuse  themselves  at  the  expense  of  those  whom  they 
considered  as  deluded  with  a  strange  infatuation. 
With  these  thoughts  they  agreed  that  if  one  of  them 
should  fall  the  other  should  not  desert  him  or  her. 
They  had  not  been  long  on  the  ground  before  the  wo- 
man fell  !  The  merry  gentleman,  instead  of  keeping 
his  promise,  frightened  at  the  sight  of  his  female 
friend  on  the  ground,  fled  with  great  precipitancy.  He 
did  not,  however,  proceed  more  than  two  hundred 
yards,  before  he  also  was  prostrate  upon  the  ground, 
and  was  soon  surrounded  by  a  praying  multitude. 

In  1801  this  work  was  greatly  aided  by  the  ener- 
getic labors  of  the  Rev.  William  M'Kendree  (after- 
ward bishop)  who  was  this  year  appointed  to  the 
Kentucky  district.  Having  been  in  the  midst  of  the 
revivals  in  the  lower  part  of  the  state,  and  having  his 
soul  fired  with  the  sacred  flame  which   was  burnincr 

o 

with  such  intensity  among  the  people,  he  went  up  into 

2 


110  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800. 

the  centre  of  the  settlements  and  carried  the  tidings 
among  them  of  what  God  was  doing  by  means  of  those 
extraordinary  meetings.  His  congregations,  composed 
chiefly  of  Methodists  and  Presbyterians,  were  power 
fully  affected  when  he  gave  them,  at  the  conclusion 
of  his  sermon,  an  animated  account  of  the  commence- 
ment and  progress  of  this  work.  It  is  said  that  while 
he  held  up  before  them  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  in- 
termixed with  narrations  of  the  work  of  God  at  these 
meetings,  his  whole  soul  seemed  to  be  filled  with 
"  glory  and  with  God,"  and  that  his  very  countenance 
beamed  with  brisrhtness.  While  he  related  with  art- 
less  simplicity,  and  with  glowing  warmth,  the  manner 
in  which  God  wrought  upon  the  souls  of  the  people, 
the  many  happy  conversions  which  had  been  witness- 
ed, and  the  astonishing  effects  which  attended  the 
preaching  of  God's  word,  the  hearts  of  God's  people 
began  to  beat  in  unison  with  his  own,  while  sinners 
were  weeping  in  every  direction  under  the  melting  in- 
fluence of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

By  this  means  these  same  meetings  were  introduced 
mto  the  centre  of  the  state,  and  spread  through  all  the 
settlements  in  the  western  country  ;  and  such  was 
the  eagerness  of  the  people  to  attend,  that  the  roads 
were  literally  crowded  with  those  that  were  pressing 
their  way  to  the  groves ;  so  much  so  that  entire 
neighborhoods  would  be  forsaken,  for  a  season,  of 
their  inhabitants.  And  as  the  Methodists  and  Pres- 
byterians were  generally  united  together  in  these 
meetings,  they  took  the  name  of  "  General  Camp 
Meetings.''^  By  these  means  they  spread  all  through 
Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  some  parts  of  Ohio,  carry- 
ing with  them  fire  and  destruction  into  the  enemy's 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  Ill 

territories,  and  bowing  the  hearts  of  God's  people  as 
the  heart  of  one  man  to  the  yoke  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Of  their  subsequent  progress,  and  the  influence  they 
have  exerted  on  society,  I  need  not  here  speak,  as 
these  things  are  known  to  all. 

Among  the  traveling  preachers  who  entered  into 
this  work  in  those  days,  we  may  mention  William 
Burke,  John  Sale,  Benjamin  Lakin,  and  Henry  Smith, 
with  a  number  of  others,  whose  zealous  efforts  con- 
tributed greatly  to  spread  the  gospel  in  these  new 
settlements.  Mr.  M'Kendree  was  the  life  and  soul  of 
this  army  of  itinerants.  Wherever  he  went,  both  by 
precept  and  example,  he  aroused  the  lukewarm  to 
diligence,  confirmed  those  who  stood  in  the  faith,  and 
alarmed  the  fears  of  careless  sinners  by  his  power- 
ful appeals  to  their  consciences.  By  his  means 
many  local  preachers  who  had  moved  into  the  coun- 
try were  induced  to  forsake  their  secular  employ- 
ments, and  enter  the  ranks  of  the  itinerancy,  and  they 
became  powerful  instruments  of  extending  the  revi- 
vals through  the  land.  Despising  alike  the  luxuries  of 
life,  and  the  frowns  or  flatteries  of  the  world,  they  went 
forth  under  the  banners  of  truth,  everywhere  pro- 
claiming in  the  ears  of  the  people  that  they  must 
"  fear  God  and  give  glory  to  his  name,  for  the  hour 
of  his  judgment  is  come." 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  preceding  remarks  that  these 
camp  meetings  were  not  the  result  of  a  previously 
digested  plan,  but  like  every  other  peculiarity  of  Me- 
thodism, were  introduced  by  providential  occurrences, 
and  were  embraced  and  followed  up  by  God's  servants 
because  they  found  them  subservient  to  the  grand  de- 
sign they  had  in  view,  namely,  the  salvation  of  the 


112  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800 

world  by  Jesus  Christ.  Indeed,  they  did  not  origin- 
ate with  the  Methodists,  but  upon  a  sacramental  oc- 
casion annong  the  Presbyterians,  at  wliich  time  there 
was  sucli  a  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Divine  Spi- 
rit in  the  people  as  inclined  them  to  protract  their 
exercises  to  an  unusual  period  ;  and  then  this  being 
noised  abroad  brought  others  to  the  place,  and  finally 
so  many  that  no  house  could  hold  them  ;  this  induced 
them  to  go  into  the  field,  and  erect  temporary  shelters 
for  themselves,  and  to  bring  provision  for  their  suste- 
nance ;  and  finding  that  God  so  abundantly  blessed 
them  in  these  meetings,  they  were  led  to  continue  them, 
until  they  at  length  became  very  general  among  the 
Methodists  throughout  the  country. 

In  order  to  give  a  connected  view  of  the  rise  of 
camp  meetings  in  the  west,  I  have  a  little  anticipated 
the  regular  date  of  the  history,  and  shall  therefore 
conclude  what  I  have  to  say  on  this  subject  for  the 
present,  with  a  few  reflections. 

I  have  simply  related  the  facts  m  respect  to  this 
extraordinary  work  as  I  find  them  recorded  in  the 
historical  sketches  of  those  times.  No  doubt  many 
now,  as  then,  will  be  skeptically  inclined  in  regard  to 
the  genuineness  of  the  work.  To  remove  this  skep- 
ticism from  the  minds  of  candid  inquirers  after  truth, 
(for  such  only  will  be  convinced,)  let  it  be  remarked, 

1.  That  as  to  the  facts  themselves,  they  are  indu- 
bitable— that  is,  there  can  be  no  room  to  doubt  that 
such  meetings  were  held  as  above  narrated,  and  that 
sinners  were  prostrated  to  the  earlh  under  the  preach- 
ing of  God's  word — that  they  cried  for  mercy — were 
delivered  in  answer  to  prayer — and  that  such,  as  well 
as  old  professors  of  religion,  often  shouted  aloud  the 


1800.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  113 

praises    of  God — and  that   many  of  these,  perhaps 
most  of  them,  afterward  led  "  peaceable  lives,  in  all 
godliness  and  honesty."     These  facts  are  as  well  at 
tested  as  any  we  have  upon  the  pages  of  history. 

2.  It  is  admitted  that  in  such  vast  multitudes,  as- 
sembled in  the  open  air,  under  circumstances  of  such 
peculiar  excitement,  and  many  of  them  not  well  in- 
structed in  science  or  m.orals,  there  must  have  been 
some  disorder,  some  mingling  of  human  passions  not 
sanctified  by  grace,  and  some  words  and  gesticulations 
not  in  accordance  with  strict  religious  decorum.  Every 
action,  therefore,  and  every  thing  which  was  said  and 
done,  I  am  by  no  means  careful  to  defend  or  pledged 
to  justify. 

3.  When  we  look  into  the  book  of  God,  we  find 
some  instances  on  record  of  persons  having  been 
affected  in  a  similar  way,  who  were  manifestly  under 
the  divine  influence.  Thus  Daniel  says  of  himself, 
that  when  he  saw  the  vision,  "  there  remained  no 
strength  in  me  ;  for  my  comeliness  was  turned  in  me 
into  corruption,  and  I  retained  no  strength" — and 
when  the  Lord  had  spoken  to  him  he  "stood  trembling," 
see  Daniel  x.  8—11.  So  Saul  of  Tarsus,  when  sa- 
luted by  the  voice  from  heaven,  fell  helpless  upon  the 
ground,  was  struck  blind,  and  remained  so  for  three 
days.  And  may  not  the  strong  cries  and  tears  of 
those  persons  who  were  struck  under  conviction  at 
those  camp  meetings,  have  been  produced  from  a 
cause  similar  to  that  which  is  recorded  in  Mark  ix, 
26,  where  it  is  said,  "  that  the  spirit  cried,  and  rent 
him  sore,  and  came  out  of  him  ?" 

4.  In  examining  the  history  of  the  work  of  God 
in  his  church  at  different  periods,   we   find  similar 

2 


114  A   HISTORV    OF    THE  [1800. 

instances  of  mental  and  bodily  exercises  on  record. 
Read,  for  example,  President  Edwards'  account  of 
the  revival  in  New-England,  and  Mr.  Wesley's  Jour- 
nal, particularly  from  1739  to  1742,  and  his  corres- 
pondence with  the  Rev.  Ralph  Erskine  of  Scotland,  in 
relation  to  this  subject. 

In  reference  to  the  work  in  New-England,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  we  have  the  fol- 
lowing testimony  of  a  convention  of  Congregational 
ministers,  who  assembled  in  Boston,  July  7,  1743, 
for  the  express  purpose  of  considermg  and  reporting 
on  the  nature  of  this  work.  The  following  is  an  ex- 
tract from  their  report : — • 

"  We  never  before  saw  so  many  brought  under  soul  con- 
cern, and  with  distress  making  the  inquiry,  *  What  must 
we  do  to  be  saved  V  and  these  persons  of  all  characters 
and  ages.  With  regard  to  the  suddenness  and  quick  pro- 
gress of  it,  many  persons  and  places  were  surprised  with 
the  gracious  visit  together,  or  near  about  the  same  time  ; 
and  the  heavenly  influence  diffused  itself  far  and  wide,  like 
the  light  of  the  morning.  Also  in  respect  of  the  degree  of 
operation,  both  in  a  way  of  terror  and  in  a  way  of  conso 
lation,  attended  in  many  with  unusual  bodily  effects.  Not 
that  all  who  were  accounted  the  subjects  of  the  present  work 
have  had  these  extraordinary  degrees  of  previous  distress 
and  subsequent  joy  :  but  many,  and  we  suppose  the  greater 
number  have  been  wrought  on  in  a  more  gentle  and  silent 
way,  and  without  any  other  appearances  than  are  common 
and  usual  at  other  times,  when  persons  have  been  awaken- 
ed to  a  solemn  concern  about  salvation,  and  have  been 
thought  to  have  passed  out  of  a  state  of  nature  into  a  state 
of  grace.  As  to  those  whose  inward  concern  has  occasioned 
extraordinary  outward  distresses,  the  most  of  them  when  we 


1800.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  115 

came  to  converse  with  them,  were  able  to  give  what  ap- 
peared to  us  a  rational  account  of  what  so  affected  their 
minds,  viz.,  a  quick  sense  of  their  guih,  misery,  and  dan- 
ger ;  and  they  would  often  mention  the  passages  in  the  ser- 
mons they  heard,  or  particular  texts  of  Scripture,  which 
were  sent  home  upon  them  with  such  a  powerful  impres- 
sion. And  as  to  such  whose  joys  have  carried  them  into 
transports  and  ecstasies,  they  in  like  manner  have  account- 
ed for  them,  from  a  lively  sense  of  the  danger  they  hoped 
they  were  freed  from,  and  the  happiness  they  were  now 
possessed  of;  such  clear  views  of  divine  and  heavenly 
things,  and  particularly  of  the  excellences  and  loveliness 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  such  sweet  tastes  of  redeeming  love 
as  they  never  had  before.  The  instances  were  very  i'ew 
in  which  we  had  reason  to  think  these  affections  were 
produced  by  visionary  or  sensible  representations,  or  by 
any  other  images  than  such  as  the  Scripture  itself  presents 
unto  us. 

"  And  here  we  think  it  not  amiss,  to  declare,  that  in 
dealing  with  these  persons,  we  have  been  careful  to  inform 
them,  that  the  nature  of  conversion  does  not  consist  in 
these  passionate  feelings  ;  and  to  warn  them  not  to  look 
upon  their  state  as  safe,  because  they  have  passed  out  of 
deep  distress  into  high  joys,  unless  they  experienced  a 
renovation  of  nature,  followed  with  a  change  of  life,  and  a 
course  of  vital  holiness.  Nor  have  we  gone  into  such  an 
opinion  of  the  bodily  effects  with  which  this  work  has 
been  attended  in  some  of  its  subjects,  as  to  judge  them  any 
signs  that  persons  who  have  been  so  affected  were  then 
under  a  saving  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  No  :  we  never 
so  much  as  called  these  bodily  seizures  convictions,  or 
spoke  of  them  as  the  immediate  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Yet  we  do  not  think  them  inconsistent  with  a  work  of  God 
upon  the  soul  at  that  very  time ;  but  judge  that  those  in- 
ward impressions  which  come  from  the  Spirit  of  God, 


116  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1800. 

those  terrors  and  consolations  of  which  he  is  the  author, 
may,  according  to  the  natural  frame  and  constitution  which 
some  persons  are  of,  occasion  such  bodily  effects  ; — and 
therefore  that  those  extraordinary  outward  symptoms  are 
not  an  argument  that  the  work  is  delusive,  or  from  the  in- 
fluence and  agency  of  the  evil  spirit." 

This  document  is  said  to  have  been  signed  by  no 
less  than  sixty-eight  ministers,  all  of  whom  concurred 
in  the  views  therein  expressed,  while  only  fifteen  re- 
fused their  assent  to  an  article  in  the  same  report 
which  accorded  to  the  practice,  at  that  time  a  novelty 
in  New-England,  of  itinerating  from  place  to  place  to 
preach  the  gospel — a  practice  introduced  by  Mr. 
Whitefield,  and  followed  by  a  few  others  who  had 
been  awakened  to  activity  by  his  zealous  labors. 

5.  With  these  facts  and  examples  before  us,  are 
we  not  justified  in  believing,  that  persons  under  the 
powerful  operations  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  either  con- 
victing them  suddenly  and  strongly  of  sin,  or  filling 
their  souls  with  his  own  pure  love,  may  have  their 
animal  functions  suspended  for  a  season,  so  that 
there  shall  "  remain  no  strength  in  them  ?"  Is  there 
any  thing  either  unscriptural  or  incredible  in  all  this  ? 

6.  Will  it  be  denied  by  any  believer  in  divine  reve- 
lation, or  even  by  a  deist,  that  God  can,  and  often 
does,  so  work  upon  the  mind  of  man,  as  to  make  that 
mind  fully  conscious  of  his  presence  ?  He  who  affects 
to  doubt  this  might  as  well  throw  off  all  disguise  at 
once,  and  turn  an  open  atheist,  and  deny  that  there  is 
any  God  who  presides  over  the  destinies  of  men,  or 
exercises  any  control  over  their  understandings  and 
affections. 

7.  As  the   mind  and  body  are   so   intimately  con- 
2 


1800.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  117 

nected  that  the  one  acts  upon  the  other,  is  there,  after 
all,  any  thing  so  very  extraordinary  in  the  supposition 
that  under  the  strong  excitennent  produced  upon  the 
one  by  the  sudden  flashes  of  truth,  the  other  should 
be  equally  and  suddenly  affected  in  the  manner  al- 
ready described  ?  How  common  are  the  instances  in 
which  persons  have  been  known  to  swoon  away  by 
receiving  sudden  news  either  of  a  joyful  or  an  alarm- 
ing character  ?  Either  great  anguish  or  excessive  joy 
has  often  been  the  means  of  depriving  individuals  of 
their  physical  strength.  And  what  sorrow  is  equal  to 
that  which  an  awakened  sinner  feels  when  he  is  sud- 
denly brought  to  see  himself  as  he  in  reality  is,  a 
rebel  against  his  God,  and  consequently  exposed  to 
wrath  and  hell !  And  must  not  the  joy  of  such  a  per- 
son be  proportionably  great  when  he  finds  himself  in 
stantaneously  delivered  from  that  load  of  guilt,  and 
filled  with  a  "  peace  unknown  to  sensual  minds  ?" 

8.  It  is  frequently  objected  to  exercises  of  this  sort, 
that  the  passions  are  chiefly  wrought  upon.  This  in- 
deed may  be  the  case  in  many  instances.  And  I 
would  by  no  means  plead  for  a  religion  which  does 
not  enter  into  the  judgment,  and  influence  the  under- 
standing as  well  as  the  afl'ections.  But  yet,  man  is  a 
creature  of  passions  as  well  as  of  intellect.  And  as 
Christianity  is  not  intended  to  destroy,  but  only  to 
regulate  the  passions,  as  well  as  to  enlighten  the  un- 
derstanding and  sanctify  the  heart,  we  must  expect 
the  passions  to  be  moved,  and  the  emotions  of  fear, 
hope,  love,  and  joy  to  be  excited  in  religious  as  well 
as  in  all  other  exercises.  To  these  passions  Christi- 
anity certainly  addresses  itself,  as  well  as  to  the  judg- 
ment, and  moves  man  to  action  from  fear,  from  hope, 

2 


118  A    HISTORY   OF   THE  [1800. 

and  from  the  promises  of  pardon,  comfort,  and  protec- 
tion, as  well  as  from  that  eternal  reward  hereafter, 
which  makes  the  Christian  joyfully  anticipate  the 
pleasures  of  the  future  life.  Those  therefore  who 
address  themselves  to  the  understanding  only,  as  if 
men  were  merely  intellectual  beings,  avail  themselves 
of  not  one  half  of  the  motives  with  which  the  gospel 
furnishes  its  servants,  to  induce  sinners  to  repent  and 
believe  in  Christ,  and  to  encourage  believers  to  perse- 
vere in  the  path  of  duty. 

9.  These  things  being  so,  is  it  any  matter  of  won- 
der that,  when  the  awfully  sublime  and  truly  affecting 
subjects  of  Christianity  are  presented  to  the  mind,  cor- 
responding effects  should  be  produced  upon  the  pas 
sions,  and  that  these,  when  violently  agitated  with 
either  religious  fear  or  joy,  should  also  affect  the 
body  ? 

10.  But  we  do  not  place  dependence  upon  these 
external  signs  as  evidences  in  themselves  of  either 
penitence,  conversion,  or  sanctification.  As  there  may 
be  a  fear,  a  hope,  and  a  love,  which  is  not  well 
founded,  so  there  may  be  much  bodily  exercise  with- 
out any  spiritual  profit.  These  things  may  or  may 
not  be.  If  a  person  who  has  had  these  exercises  pro- 
fess, in  the  meantime,  to  have  experienced  a  change 
of  heart,  if  he  bring  forth  the  fruit  of  righteousness  in 
his  subsequent  life,  we  may  then  safely  conclude  that 
the  work  was  effected  by  the  Spirit  of  God ;  but  if 
otherwise,  if  he  still  manifest  the  unhumbled  spirit  of 
the  Pharisee,  or  bring  forth  the  "  works  of  the  flesh," 
his  profession  cannot  save  him  from  the  condemnation 
of  the  hypocrite,  or  the  misery  of  the  self-deluded. 

These  remarks  are  submitted  to  the  candid  reader, 
2 


1801.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  119 

with  the  hope  that  they  may  assist  him  in  making  up 
an  unbiased  judgment  in  respect  to  these  things  ;  and 
although,  in  the  course  of  our  history,  we  shall  be 
compelled  to  admit  the  humiliating  fact,  that  some  of 
the  subjects  of  the  above  revivals  brought  forth  fruit 
unto  death,  yet  it  will  be  equally  plain  that  the  influ- 
ence of  others  on  society  generally  was  of  a  very 
hallowed  character. 

Not  less  than  twenty-four  preachers  were  located 
this  year,  three  withdrew,  and  four  had  died  in  peace. 
These  latter  were,  William  Early,  Thomas  Haymond, 
Benton  Riggin,  and  Robert  Benham.  These  had  all 
been  faithful  in  their  labors,  and  died  in  the  Lord. 


This  year, 
Last  year, 

Numbers 

Whites. 
51,442 
49,115 

2,327 

in  the  Church. 

Colored.              Total. 
13,452        64,894 
12,236         61,351 

1,216           3,543 

Preachers. 
287 
272 

Increase, 

15 

1801.  There  were  only  seven  annual  conferences 
held  this  year,  the  first  commencing  in  Camden,  S.  C, 
January  1,  and  the  last  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  July  17. 

The  work  of  God  which  had  commenced  last  year 
under  such  favorable  auspices,  and  which  has  been 
so  fully  detailed,  continued  this  year,  in  many  places, 
with  increased  rapidity  -and  power.  Bishop  Asbury 
and  his  colleague.  Bishop  Whatcoat,  made  their  an- 
nual tour  of  the  continent,  not  only  in  visiting  and 
presiding  in  the  conferences,  but  also  preaching  to  the 
people  in  the  various  cities,  towns,  and  villages,  as 
well  as  the  new  and  scattered  settlements  through 
which  they  were  enabled  to  pa'ss.  The  revivals  of 
religion  which  had  been  witnessed,  the  unabated  con- 

2 


120  A    HISTOR-V     OF    THE  [1801. 

fidence  and  atlachinenl  which  had  been  manifested 
toward  Bishop  Asbury  by  the  conference,  and  the  re- 
lief afforded  iiim  in  his  arduous  labors  by  the  con- 
secration of  Mr.  Wiiatcoat  as  a  colleague,  seemed  to 
put  new  life  into  him,  so  that  he  remarks,. after  at- 
tending a  conference  in  Philadelphia,  "  My  health  is 
restored  to  the  astonishment  of  myself  and  friends." 
"  Surely,"  he  says  in  connection  with  his  allusion  to 
the  Philadelphia  conference,  "  we  may  say  our  pente- 
cost  is  fully  come  this  year." 

Having  so  fully  narrated  the  progress  of  the  work 
of  God  in  the  western  country  under  date  of  1800,  it 
is  not  necessary  to  add  any  thing  in  respect  to  it 
here.  In  other  parts  of  the  comitry,  however,  the 
work  went  on  under  somewhat  different  circumstances, 
but  with  equal  indications  of  divine  power  and  good- 
ness. In  New-Hampshire  and  Vermont  there  were 
signal  displays  of  the  grace  of  God  in  the  awakening 
and  conversion  of  souls.  One  of  the  preachers 
writes  in  the  following  strain  respecting  the  state  of 
things  there  : — 

*'  Landaff  circuit,  in  New-Hampshire,  is  all  in  a  flame. 
Upward  of  one  hundred  have  been  converted  to  God  ;  and 
the  work  goes  on  still  in  a  glorious  manner.  In  Chester- 
field circuit  nearly  one  hundred  have  joined  our  society, 
and  the  prospect  is  now  brighter  than  it  has  been.  In 
Vershire  circuit,  in  Vermont,  there  is  a  good  work.  More 
than  one  hundred  have  joined  society,  and  the  power  of 
the  Lord  is  remarkably  displayed ;  many  fall  down,  being 
overwhelmed  with  the  power  of  the  Lord.  Weathersfield 
circuit  has  been  gradually  gaining  ground  the  whole  year, 
and  now  the  times  of  refreshing  are  come  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord.  In  the  town  of  Athens  we  had  a  most  melt- 
2 


1801-  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  121 

ing  time.  The  power  of  the  Lord  was  present  to  heal,  and 
eighty-three  joined  society  on  that  day,  although  there  was 
no  society  there  before." 

It  seems  that  the  revivals  in  Canada  and  the  west- 
ern country  began  to  exert  an  influence  in  other 
parts  of  the  work,  and  lead  to  a  similar  method  in 
promoting  the  cause  of  God.  In  the  latter  part  of 
May  of  this  year,  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Delaware 
state,  a  meeting  was  held  for  several  days,  at  which 
time  the  Lord  wrought  powerfully  upon  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  so  that  on  the  last  day  of  the  meeting  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  persons  united  with  the  Church. 
Many  more  took  their  departure  to  their  homes  under 
a  deep  conviction  of  their  sinfulness,  and  earnestly 
groaning  for  redemption  in  the  blood  of  Christ. 

In  the  Baltimore  district,  which  included  a  number 
of  large  circuits,  it  was  estimated  that  upward  of  a 
thousand  souls  were  converted  to  God  in  the  space 
of  a  few  months.  In  Annapolis,  the  metropolis  of  the 
state  of  Maryland,  many  were  brought  to  the  know- 
ledge of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  sins,  and  there 
was  great  joy  in  that  city. 

In  Upper  Canada,  the  glorious  revival  which  has 
been  already  mentioned  had  extended  along  up  the 
shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  even  to  the  head  of  the  lake, 
to  Niagara,  and  thence  to  Long  Point  on  the  north- 
western shore  of  Lake  Erie,  including  four  large  four 
weeks'  circuits.  The  district  this  year  was  under  the 
charge  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Jewell,  who  traveled  ex- 
tensively through  the  newly  settled  country,  preaching 
in  log  houses,  in  barns,  and  sometimes  in  groves, 
and  everywhere  beholding  the  displays  of  the  power 
and  grace  of  God  in  the  awakening  and  conversion  of 

Vol.  II.— 6 


122  A    HISTORY   OF   THE  [1801. 

sinners,  as  well  as  the  sanctificalion  of  believers.  A 
great  work  of  God  was  carried  on  this  year  under  the 
preaching  of  Joseph  Sawijer,  whose  faithful  labors  on 
the  Niagara  circuit  will  be  long  and  gratefully  renaem- 
bered  by  the  people  in  that  country  ;  and  it  was  during 
this  revival  that  the  present  writer,  after  four  or  five 
years  of  hard  struggling  under  a  consciousness  of  his 
sinfulness,  was  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ ;  and 
here  he  wishes  to  record  his  gratitude  to  God  for  his 
distinguished  grace,  in  snatching  such  a  brand  from 
the  fire,  and  to  his  people  for  their  kindness,  and  more 
especially  to  that  servant  of  God,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Sawyer,  under  whose  pastoral  oversight  he  was 
brought  into  the  Church. 

Nor  should  the  labors  and  privations,  the  prayers 
and  sufferings  in  the  cause  of  Christ  of  that  faithful 
servant  of  God,  the  Rev.  James  Coleman,  be  forgot- 
ten. He  preceded  Mr.  Sawyer  in  the  Niagara 
circuit,"^    and    though    not  distinguished  for    shining 

*  This  part  of  the  country  was  first  visited  by  a  local  preacher 
from  the  United  States  by  the  name  of  Neel,  who  commenced 
preaching  in  the  vicinity  of  Queenstown,  amid  much  obloquy  and 
opposition.  He  was  a  holy  man  of  God  and  an  able  minis- 
ter of  the  New  Testament.  His  woid  was  blessed  to  the 
awakening  and  conversion  of  many  souls,  and  he  was  always 
spoken  of  by  the  people  with  great  affection  and  veneration  as 
the  pioneer  of  Methodism  in  that  country.  Among  those  who 
first  joined  the  society  may  be  mentioned  Christian  Warner, 
who  lived  near  what  is  now  called  St.  David's,  who  became  a 
class  leader,  and  his  house  was  a  home  for  the  preachers  and 
for  preaching  for  many  years.  He  was  considered  a  father  in 
Israel  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  first  Methodist  meeting 
house  erected  in  that  part  of  the  country  was  in  his  neighbor- 
hood.     This  was  built  in  1801. 

Christian  Warner  has  been  dead  many  years ;  but  several  of 
2 


1801.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  123 

talents  as  a  preacher,  he  was  beloved  by  the  people  of 
God  for  his  fidelity  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  for 
his  deep  devotion  to  their  spiritual  interests,  evinced  by 
his  faithful  attention  to  the  arduous  duties  of  his  cir- 
cuit. He  had  many  seals  to  his  ministry.  And  the 
writer  of  this  remembers  with  gratitude  the  many 
prayers  which  James  Coleman  offered  up  to  God  in 
his  behalf  while  a  youthful  stranger  in  that  land,  and 
while  seeking,  with  his  eyes  but  half  opened,  to  find 
the  way  of  "  peace  and  pleasantness." 

The  work  also  prevailed  on  the  Bay  of  Quintie  and 
Oswegochie  circuits,  under  the  labors  of  Sylvanus 
Keeler,  Seth  Crowell,  and  others.  The  latter  was  a 
young  preacher  of  great  zeal  and  of  the  most  indefati- 
gable industry  ;  and  going  into  that  country  he  soon 
caught  the  flame  of  Divine  love  which  had  been  enkin 
died  by  the  instrumentality  of  Messrs.  Wooster,  Coate 
and  Dunham.  He  entered  into  the  work  with  great 
energy  and  perseverance,  and  God  blessed  liis  labors 
with  much  success.  So  greatly  had  God  prospered 
the  labors  of  his  faithful  servants  in  this  province, 
that  there  were  returned  in  the  minutes  of  conference 
for  this  year  11 59  members  of  the  Church.  It  had, 
indeed,  extended  into  the  lower  province,  on  the  Ottawa 
River,  an  English  settlement  about  fifty  miles  west 
of  Montreal.  This  new  circuit  was  traveled  by 
John  Robinson  and  Caleb  Morris,  and  they  returned 
forty-five  members  in  the  Church. 

his  descendants  are  there,  some  of  whom  are  members  of  the 
Church. 

Mr.  Neel  lived  to  see  large  and  flourishing  societies  esta- 
blished through  all  that  country,  and  at  length  was  gathered  to 
ills  fathers  in  a  good  old  age. 

2 


A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1801. 

Like  the  new  settlements  in  tlie  western  country, 
Upper  Canada  was  at  that  tinne  but  sparsely  populated, 
so  that  in  riding  from  one  appointment  to  another,  the 
preachers  sometimes  had  to  pass  through  wildernesses 
from  ten  to  sixty  miles'  distance,  and  not  unfrequently 
had  either  to  encamp  in  the  woods  or  sleep  in  an  Indian 
hut ;  and  sometimes,  in  visiting  the  newly  settled 
places,  they  have  carried  provender  for  their  horses 
over  night,  when  they  would  tie  them  to  a  tree  to 
prevent  their  straying  in  the  woods  ;  while  the  preach- 
ers themselves  had  to  preach,  eat,  and  lodge  in  the 
same  room,  looking  at  the  curling  smoke  ascending 
through  an  opening  in  the  roof  of  the  log  house, 
which  had  not  yet  the  convenience  of  even  a  chimney. 

But  in  the  midst  of  these  labors  and  privations, 
they  seemed  to  be  abundantly  compensated  in  behold- 
ing the  blessed  effects  of  their  evangelical  efforts,  and 
the  cordiality  and  high  gratification  with  which  they 
were  received  and  treated,  more  especially  by  those 
whose  hearts  God  had  touched  by  his  Spirit.  For 
though  these  people  were  in  the  wilderness,  and  many 
of  them  poor,  they  seemed  to  be  ripe  for  the  gospel, 
and  it  was  no  less  gratifying  to  its  messengers  than  it 
was  pleasurable  to  iis  recipients  to  behold  its  blessed 
effects  upon  the  hearts  and  lives  of  such  as  "  believed 
with  a  heart  unto  righteousness."  While  those  who 
resisted  the  truth,  often  manifested  their  enmity  by 
persecuting  those  who  proclaimed  it,  such  as  did 
"  receive  it  in  the  love  of  it,"  evinced  their  affection 
and  gratitude  to  those  who  published  it,  by  making 
them  welcome  to  their  habitations,  and  entertaining 
them  in  the  very  best  manner  they  could.  For  these 
self-denying  labors,  and  sacrifices  of  these  early 
2 


1801.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  125 

Methodist  preachers,  thousands  of  immortal  beings  in 
Canada  will  doubtless  praise  God  in  that  day  "  when 
he  shall  come  to  make  up  his  jewels." 

A  very  serious  affair  occurred  in  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  about  this  time.  In  1801  and  1802  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  George  Dougherty  and  John  Harper 
were  stationed  in  that  city.  Hearing  that  Mr.  Harper 
had  received  some  pamphlets  from  the  north,  contain- 
ing resolutions  to  memorialize  the  legislature  against 
slavery,  notwithstanding  the  oflfensive  documents  were 
burned  in  presence  of  the  mayor  of  the  city,  a  lawless 
mob  collected  to  avenge  themselves  on  the  person  of 
Mr.  Harper.  He,  however,  providentially  escaping 
from  their  fury,  they  seized  on  Mr.  Dougherty,  drag- 
ged him  through  the  street  to  the  pump,  and  having 
placed  his  head  under  the  spout,  commenced  pumping 
water  upon  him,  and  in  all  probability  they  would 
have  suffocated  him,  had  not  a  pious  woman,  a  Mrs. 
Kingsley,  interfered  in  his  behalf.  With  an  intrepidity 
worthy  of  all  praise,  she  resolutely  placed  herself  be- 
tween the  infuriated  populace  and  their  intended  vic- 
tim, and  stuffed  her  shawl  into  the  mouth  of  the  spout, 
and  thus  stopped  the  flowing  of  the  water.  This 
heroic  act  filled  the  persecutors  of  Dougherty  with 
astonishment.  In  silent  amazement  they  paused 
from  their  murderous  work.  At  this  moment  of  sus- 
pense, a  gentleman  with  a  drawn  sword  stood  in  the 
midst  of  them,  and,  taking  Dougherty  by  the  hand, 
boldly  declared  his  intention  to  protect  him  from  their 
violence  at  all  hazards  ;  and  he  then  led  him  away, 
no  one  daring  to  interfere.  Thus  completing  the  victory 
which  the  "  weaker  sex"  had  so  daringly  begun,  the 
man  of  God,  thoroughly  wet  by  the  water  of  the  pump, 

2 


126  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1801. 

was  rescued  from  the  hand  of  violence,  and  restored 
to  his  friends  in  safety — ahhough  it  is  said  that  his 
sufferings  in  this  cruel  affair  laid  the  foundation  of  that 
puln[ionary  disease  with  which  he  afterward  died.  It  is 
furthermore  stated,  that  of  all  those  concerned  in  this 
persecution  not  one  prospered;  most  of  them  died  mise- 
rable deaths,  and  one  of  them  acknowledged  that  God's 
curse  lighted  upon  him  for  his  conduct  in  this  affair. 
Thirty-two  preachers  located  this  year,  three  were 
returned  supernumerary,  and  four,  namely,  James  Til- 
latson,  Abraham  Andrews^  Salathiel  Weeks,  and 
Charles  Burgoon,  after  a  faithful  discharge  of  their 
duties  as  ministers  of  Christ,  had  died  in  the  hope  of 
everlasting  life. 


This  year 
Last  year 

Numbers 

Whites. 

57,186 
51,442 

5,744 

in  the  Church. 

Colored.               Total. 

15,688        72,874 
13,452        64,894 

2,236           7,980 

Preachers. 
307 

278 

Increase 

29 

There  was  no  account  rendered  of  the  numbers  in 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  where  those  great  revivals 
of  religion  had  occurred,  otherwise  the  increase  would 
have  appeared  much  larger  than  it  does.  As  it  is, 
however,  it  shows  the  blessed  results  of  those  revivals 
which  have  been  before  detailed. 

On  the  29th  day  of  January  of  this  year,  the  Rev. 
Devereaux  Jarratt  departed  this  life  in  the  69th  year 
of  his  age  ;  and  though  he  was  never  in  connection 
with  the  Methodists,  yet  as  he  favored  them  in  the 
early  period  of  their  ministry,  and  was  greatly  instru- 
mental in  promoting  the  work  of  God  in  Virginia  in 
those  days,  it  seems  proper  to  give  some  account 


1801.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  127 

of  his  character,  labors,  and  death.  Mr.  Jarratt  was 
born  in  New-Kent  county,  in  Virginia,  on  the  6th  of 
January,  1732,  O.  S.  He  was  awakened  to  a  sense 
of  his  lost  and  guilty  condition  by  the  reading  of  one 
of  Mr.  Flavel's  sermons,  and  after  a  long  course  of 
mental  discipline,  a  severe  struggling  against  the  in- 
nate corr'^^Hons  of  his  heart,  when  about  twenty-eight 
years  of  age,  he  was  made  a  partaker  of  justifying 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ.  In  his  30th  year  he  began  to 
prepare  for  orders  in  the  English  Church,  and  after 
due  preparation  he  went  to  England  and  received  con 
secration  on  Christmas  day,  in  the  year  1762.  Be 
fore  his  return  he  preached  several  times  in  London, 
and  such  was  the  zeal  with  which  he  spoke  in  the 
name  of  his  divine  Master,  that  he  even  then  was  call- 
ed by  some  a  Methodist,  an  appellation  commonly 
given  to  those  who  manifested  more  than  usual  zeal 
in  their  ministry. 

On  his  return  to  America,  in  1763,  he  was  settled 
in  the  parish  of  Bath,  Dinwiddle  county,  Virginia,  and 
became  a  zealous  and  evangelical  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ,  by  which  means  he  incurred  the  dipleasure 
of  the  lukewarm  clergy  of  his  own  Church,  as  well 
as  of  those  members  who  had  "  the  form  of  godliness, 
but  denied  the  power  thereof,"^  This,  no  doubt,  led 
him  to  seek  for  spiritual  associates  elsewhere,  and  we 

*  Bishop  Asbury,  who  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  Mr. 
Jarratt,  says  of  him,  "  He  was  a  faithful  and  successful  preacher. 
He  had  witnessed  four  or  five  periodical  revivals  of  religion  in 
his  parish. — When  he  began  his  labors,  there  was  no  other, 
that  he  knew  of,  evangelical  ministers  in  all  the  province  of 
Virginia." — "  He  traveled  into  several  counties,  and  there 
were  very  few  parish  churches  within  fifty  miles  of  his  own, 
in  which  he  had  not  preached :  to  which  labors  of  love  and 


I3S  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1801. 

accordingly  find  him,  as  we  have  already  seen,  receiv- 
ing and  aiding  tlie  Methodist  preachers  w^hen  they 
came  into  his  neighborhood — for  which  service  they 
in  several  instances  recorded  their  gratitude. 

Mr.  Jarratt  continued  his  friendship  for  his  Me- 
thodist brethren  in  general  until  the  organization  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1784,  when  he  mani- 
fested, if  we  may  believe  in  the  genuineness  of  the  let- 
ters attributed  to  him  which  were  published  after  his 
death,  no  little  displeasure  at  their  proceedings,  and 
uttered  some  hard  things  against  Dr.  Coke,  Bishop 
Asbury,  and  some  others. 

zeal,  was  added,  preaching  the  word  of  life  on  solitary  planta- 
tions, and  in  meeting  houses.  He  was  the  first  who  received 
our  despised  preachers.  When  strangers  and  unfriended,  he 
took  them  to  his  house,  and  had  societies  formed  in  his  parish. 
Some  of  his  people  became  traveling  and  local  preachers 
among  us." — "I  verily  believe  that  hundreds  were  awakened 
by  his  labors.  They  are  dispersed — some  have  gone  to  the 
Carolinas,  to  Georgia,  to  the  western  country — some  perhaps 
are  in  heaven,  and  some,  it  may  be,  in  hell."  This  is  a  strong 
testimony  in  favor  of  Mr.  Jarratt.  Little  did  the  writer  think 
when  he  penned  it  that  a  future  day  would  reveal  an  edition  of 
Mr.  Jarratt's  posthumous  letters,  containing  such  hard  censures 
against  the  Methodists  as  are  therein  found.  Indeed  these 
censures  are  so  much  unlike  the  general  tone  and  spirit  of  Mr. 
Jarratt,  as  they  were  exemplified  in  his  life  and  conversation, 
that  some,  who  revere  his  memory,  have  expressed  doubts  of 
their  genuineness,  or  at  least  that  their  editor  foisted  in  expres- 
sions which  are  not  in  the  originals.  On  the  truth  of  such  a 
conjecture  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  decide  ;  but  on  reading  the 
letters,  there  does  not  appear  to  me  any  thing,  except  the  gene- 
ral character  of  their  reputed  author,  to  cause  one  to  suspect 
their  genuineness.  Mr.  Jarratt  doubtless  thought  he  had 
cause  to  complain,  and  under  the  influence  of  this  impression, 
he  seems  to  have  expressed  himself  in  a  strain  of  invective 
somewhat  unbecoming  the  character  he  sustained. 
2 


1801.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  129 

But  while  he  was  dissatisfied  with  the  Methodists, 
on  account  of  their  becoming  an  independent  Church, 
he  seemed  equally  as  much  so  with  most  of  the  clergy 
of  his  own  Church,  because  of  their  derehction  from 
the  doctrines  of  their  Church,  and  their  manifest  want 
of  a  conformity  to  the  formuleuries  of  their  religion, 
and  especially  those  parts  which  enjoined  experi- 
mental and  practical  piety.  In  this  frame  of  mind  he 
laments,  in  pathetic  strains,  the  low  state  of  religion  in 
his  Church,  the  want  of  evangelical  zeal  and  enlight- 
ened piety  in  her  clergy,  and  the  general  deadness  to 
spiritual  things  throughout  the  country. 

I  have  made  this  short  record  of  Mr.  Jarratt, 
1 .  Because  I  think  it  due  to  him  as  an  active,  zealous, 
and  successful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  whose  friend- 
ship for  the  Methodists  when  they  first  visited  Vir- 
ginia, and  for  a  considerable  time  after,  greatly  aided 
them  in  promoting  the  cause  of  God.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  indefatigable  in  his  gospel  labors,  and 
was  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  many  sinners. 

2.  Because  his  posthumous  letters  have  been  refer- 
red to  as  an  evidence  of  his  regret  that  he  had  contri- 
buted so  much  to  subserve  the  cause  of  Methodism. 
It  is,  indeed,  to  be  lamented  that  any  thing  should  have 
occurred  to  interrupt,  in  any  degree,  that  harmony  of 
Christian  fellowship  which  evidently  subsisted  be- 
tween him  and  the  Methodists,  and  which  had  been 
for  a  number  of  years  mutually  beneficial,  and  had,  ac- 
cordingly, been  reciprocated  with  the  utmost  good  will. 
But  on  the  organization  of  our  Church,  Mr.  Jarratt 
found  himself  between  two  fires.  On  the  one  hand, 
he  could  not  approve  in  his  judgment  of  that  organiza- 
tion, while  his  feehngs  tied  him  to  his  old  friends ; 
6*  2 


I9Q[  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1802. 

and  in  this  conflict  between  his  judgment  and  feelings, 
the  latter  became  somewhat  irritated,  and  prompted 
him  to  say  things  which,  it  may  be  presumed,  his 
more  sober  judgment  would  have  condemned.  On 
the  other  hand,  while  his  judgment  approved  of  the 
doctrine  and  formularies  of  devotion  recognized  in 
his  own  Church,  he  could  not  fellowship  the  conduct 
of  her  lukewarm  clergy  and  members  ;  and  hence,  on 
perceiving  this  inconsistency  between  faith  and  prac- 
tice, he  loudly  condemned  the  one,  while  he  warmly 
applauded  the  other.  In  this  dilemma,  a  situation 
much  to  be  deprecated  by  every  conscientious  minis- 
ter of  Jesus  Christ,  he  seems  to  have  said  some 
things  which  may  justly  be  regretted  by  his  friends  in 
both  communions. 

.  It  is  not  doubted,  however,  considering  his  general 
character,  course  of  conduct,  and  the  predominant 
tone  of  his  writings,  that  his  last  end  was  "  peace  and 
assurance  for  ever" — and  that  with  Wesley  and 
Fletcher,  whom  he  so  much  admired,  and  with  those 
Methodist  preachers  with  whom  he  once  took  such 
sweet  counsel,  as  well  as  with  all  those  of  every  name 
who  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  he  is  now  united  in 
ascribing  salvation  and  honor  to  Him  wJio  loved  them 
and.  washed  them  in  his  own  blood. 

1802.  This  year  there  were  seven  annual  confer- 
ences, and  as  they  remained  stationary,  as  to  numbers, 
for  several  years,  and  were  generally  held  for  each 
section  of  the  country  about  the  same  time  of  the 
year,  I  will  here  give  the  time  and  place  of  each, 
that  the  reader  may  see  the  general  route  taken  by 
the  superintendents  every  year. 

Oct.    1,    1801,    the    conference    for    the  western 
2 


1802.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  131 

preachers  was  held  in  Ebenezer,  Tennessee  :  Jan.  1, 
1802,  in  Caniden,  South  Carolina:  March  1,  at 
Salem  meeting-house,  North  Carolina  :  April  1,  in 
Baltimore,  Maryland:  May  1,  in  Philadelphia  :  June  1, 
New-York:  July  1,  in  Monmouth,  Maine.  There 
were  about  twenty  new  circuits  added  this  year,  but 
as  circuits  were  almost  continually  increased  by  the 
addition  of  new,  and  the  division  of  old  ones,  by  which 
their  names  were  changed,  it  seems  inexpedient  to 
particularize  them,  unless  something  special  shall 
render  it  necessary.  As  an  evidence  of  the  good 
effects  of  the  revivals  we  have  noticed,  we  may  remark 
that  there  were  sixty-seven  preachers  admitted  on 
trial,  and  only  ten  located. 

This  good  work  continued  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  particularly  in  the  west,  by  the  instrumentality 
of  camp-meetings,  and  also  in  some  of  the  southern 
states.  In  Virginia,  where  the  cause  of  religion  had 
suffered  severely  on  account  of  the  secession  and 
subsequent  conduct  of  O'Kelly  and  his  partisans, 
the  Lord  began  again  to  show  himself  in  mercy  in 
the  awakening  and  conversion  of  souls.  At  Mabry's 
and  Merrit's  chapels,  and  in  Greenville  circuit,  there 
were  remarkable  displays  of  the  power  and  grace  of 
God,  which  eventuated  in  bringing  hundreds  of  sinners 
into  the  light  of  the  gospel.  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth 
shared  in  the  blessed  work.  Tn  Rockingham  an 
account  is  given  of  a  meeting  which  continued  not  less 
than  nine  days,  during  which  time  almost  all  secular 
business  was  suspended,  so  entirely  did  the  concerns 
of  eternity  occupy  the  time  and  attention  of  the  people. 
It  seems,  therefore,  that  protracted  meetings,  as  they 
have  been  more  recently  called,  were  not  unknown  in 

2 


192  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1802. 

those  days.  The  cliief  difference  between  those  and 
such  as  have  been  held  within  a  few  past  years, 
consists  in  this,  that  the  former  were  introduced 
without  any  previous  design,  but  were  the  result  of 
providential  occurrences,  while  the  latter  were  ap- 
pointed with  the  express  intention  of  being  continued 
for  several  days,  and  hence,  at  first,  were  called 
"  four  days'  meetings."  The  result  of  the  one  men- 
tioned above  was,  that  one  hundred  and  seven  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  were  brought  into  the 
Church,  exclusive  of  those  who  came  from  a  distance, 
and  were  benefited  by  the  meeting. 

There  was  also  a  great  work  of  God  which  began 
last  year  on  Flanders'  circuit,  in  the  state  of  New- 
Jersey,  under  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  Woolsey 
and  his  colleagues.  Mr.  Woolsey  had  proved  himself 
a  bold  and  hardy  veteran  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  by 
volunteering  his  services  for  Upper  Canada,  in  the 
year  1794,  in  company  with  Darius  Dunham  and 
James  Coleman,  where  he  labored  for  two  years  with 
much  patience  and  industry,  and  saw  the  fruit  of  his 
efforts  in  the  conversion  of  souls.  In  1801  he  was 
stationed  on  Flanders'  circuit,  and  after  cutting  off 
those  corrupt  members  of  the  Church  who  could  not 
be  reformed,  he  finally  saw  the  blessed  result  of  his 
labors  in  one  of  the  most  manifest  displays  of  the 
grace  of  God  ever  witnessed  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
This  work  commenced  at  a  quarterly  meeting,  at 
vi^hich  it  was  judged  there  were  not  less  than  six 
thousand  persons  present.  It  seems  that  before  the 
meeting  commenced  both  brother  Woolsey  and  the 
presiding  elder,  the  Rev.  Solomon  Sharp,  had  a  pre 
sentiment  that  the  Lord  was  about  to  work  at  this 
2 


1802.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  133 

meeting,  and  hence  they  went  in  the  exercise  of  strong 
faith  in  the  promises  of  God  that  it  would  be  even  so. 
When  brother  Woolsey  arose  to  address  the  assembly, 
feeling  "  the  word  of  the  Lord  like  fire  shut  up  in  his 
bones,"  he  informed  them  that  God  would  work 
among  them;  and  accordingly  a  shaking  and  trembling 
began  to  be  visible  in  the  assembly,  accompanied  with 
strong  cries  to  God  for  mercy.  The  meeting  con- 
tinued until  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and  some,  indeed, 
remained  all  night  in  these  solemn  exercises.  The 
work  thus  commenced  spread  throughout  the  circuit, 
and  great  was  th.^  rejoicing  of  the  people,  both  among 
the  young  converts  and  the  old  professors  of  religion. 
This  revival  eventuated  in  the  conversion  of  many 
souls,  and  created  a  hallowing  influence  on  the  sur- 
rounding population. 

In  Alexandria,  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  the 
quarterly  meeting  which  began  on  Christmas  day, 
continued  sixteen  days,  and  terminated  in  the  conver- 
sion of  upward  of  one  hundred  souls.  In  the  states  of 
North  and  South  Carolina,  Maryland,  and  Delaware, 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  poured  out  among  the  peo- 
ple in  such  a  manner  that  some  of  the  meetings  were 
continued  day  and  night,  and  hundreds  became  the 
subjects  of  the  grace  of  life. 

In  Vermont,  also,  the  good  work  was  extended  in 
many  places,  through  the  labors  of  God's  faithful 
ministers.  Joseph  Mitchell,  Joseph  Crawford,  Elijah 
Chichester,  and  Elijah  (now  bishop)  Hedding,  had 
been  instrumental,  in  the  three  or  four  preceding 
years,  of  carrying  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the 
inhabitants  along  the  shores  of  Lake  Champlain,  both 
in  New- York  and  Vermont,  and  had  established  many 

2 


134  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  (1802. 

flourishing  societies,  which  liave  continued  gradually 
increasing  until  this  day.  This  year  William  Anson 
was  sent  to  form  a  circuit  on  Grand  Isle,  and  such 
was  his  success,  that  there  were  returned  for  the  next 
year  one  hundred  and  two  members  of  the  Church. 

Montreal,  in  Lower  Canada,  was  visited  this  year 
by  Joseph  Sawyer.  He  found  a  few  persons  there 
who  had  belonged  to  the  Methodist  society  in  the  city 
of  New-York  before  the  revolutionary  war,  who 
received  him  cordially,  and  assisted  him  in  procuring 
a  school-room  for  preaching.  A  Mr.  M'Ginnis  and 
his  sister,  both  unmarried,  were  among  the  first  who 
attached  themselves  to  the  society  in  Montreal,  and 
they  remained  faithful  during  all  the  vicissitudes 
through  which  Methodism  was  called  to  pass  in  that 
city  until  their  death. 

The  Long  Point  circuit,  in  Upper  Canada,  was 
formed  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  chiefly  through  the 
labors  of  Nathan  Bangs,  who  went  into  the  work 
under  the  direction  of  the  presiding  elder  of  the  dis- 
trict. In  the  towns  of  Burford  and  Oxford  particularly 
there  was  a  great  work  of  God  commenced  under  his 
labors  which  eventuated  in  the  conversion  of  about 
one  hundred  souls. 

In  the  midst  of  this  great  work  which  was  extend 
ing  over  the  continent,  and  blessing  thousands  with  its 
renovating  influences.  Bishop  Asbury  and  his  faithful 
colleague,  Bishop  Whatcoat,  were  moving  among  the 
churches,  "  as  golden  candlesticks,"  reflecting  their 
lustre  on  all  around  them,  and,  by  their  example, 
exciting  them  to  activity  and  diligence  in  the  cause  of 
God.  In  imitation  of  the  primitive  evangelists,  these 
bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  itinerated 


1802.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  135 

through  the  extent  of  the  work,  east,  west,  north,  and 
south,  not  neglecting  the  remotest  settlements  in  the 
wildernesses.  And  that  they  might  not  interfere  with 
each  other,  nor  both  travel  over  the  same  ground,  we 
find  them  in  the  latter  part  of  last  year,  after  holding 
a  council  with  some  of  their  brethren,  determining  to 
meet  the  Virginia  conference,  and  from  thence  accom- 
pany each  other  as  far  as  the  New-York  conference  ; 
after  which  one  was  to  continue  on  east  to  superintend 
the  conferences  in  that  direction,  visiting  all  the  east- 
ern and  northern  states,  and  on  through  the  western 
section  of  New-York  state  to  Pittsburgh  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  thence  through  the  districts  of  Virginia, 
until  he  met  his  colleague  at  the  Virginia  conference  ; 
the  bishop  who  took  the  western  tour  was  to  pass  on 
into  the  western  states  and  territories,  through  Ken- 
lucky,  Tennessee,  Georgia,  North  and  South  Carolina, 
and  so  meet,  as  before  stated,  in  the  centre  of  the 
work  in  Virginia.  What  a  diocess  was  this  !  Each 
bishop  was  to  have  a  traveling  elder  to  accompany 
him."^ 

According  to  this  wise  arrangement  they  shaped 
their  course  thereafter,  spreading  themselves  as  far  as 
possible  over  the  entire  field  of  itinerant  labor,  and,  by 
the  aid  of  their  traveling  companions,  preaching, 
wherever  they  came,  to  the  people,  and  giving  a  vigor- 
ous impulse  to  the  work  of  God.  And  as  a  sample 
of  the  manner  in  which  their  time  was  occupied,  and 
the  kind  of  fare  they  sometimes  were  obliged  to  put 
up  with,  take  the  following  from  Bishop  Asbury's 
Journal  : — • 

*  Asbury's  Journal,  vol.  iii,  page  43. 


136  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1802, 

"  Why,"  says  he,  "  should  a  living  man  complain  ?  But  to 
be  three  months  together  upon  the  frontiers,  where  generally 
you  have  but  one  room  and  fire-place,  and  half  a  dozen  folks 
about  you,  strangers  perhaps,  and  their  families  certainly 
(and  they  are  not  usually  small  in  those  plentiful  new- 
countries)  making  a  crowd — and  this  is  not  all — for  here  you 
may  meditate  if  you  can,  and  here  you  must  preach,  read, 
write,  pray,  sing,  talk,  eat,  drink,  and  sleep, — or  fly  into  the 
woods.  Well !  I  have  pains  in  my  body" — "  which  are 
very  afflictive  when  I  ride  ;  but  I  cheer  myself  as  well  as 
I  may  with  songs  in  the  night." 

It  certainly  may  be  said  of  those  who  "  desire  the 
office  of  a  bishop"  in  connection  with  laborings  and 
sufferings  such  as  these,  if  they  do  not  "  desire  a  good 
thing,"  they  at  least  desire  an  office,  not  for  its  tem- 
poral emolument,  nor  for  the  sake  of  the  ease  and 
worldly  grandeur  it  confers.  After  speaking  of  his 
arrival  in  New-York  for  this  year,  he  says, — 

"  We  advance  toward  the  completion  of  four  thousand 
miles  for  the  present  year.  I  have  had  great  exercises  on^ 
going  through  rain  and  continual  labor  ;  but  have  been 
blessed  with  great  peace  by  my  good  and  gracious  God." 

The  following  account  of  the  conference  which  he 
attended  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  together  with  his 
remarks  respecting  a  portion  of  his  journal  which  was 
printed  during  his  life-time,  is  inserted  as  due  to  him 
as  a  writer,  and  to  the  benevolence  of  his  heart  as  a 
superintendent  of  the  Church,  as  they  show,  on  the 
one  hand,  that  he  was  not  responsible  for  the  errors  in 
his  journal,  which  all  who  saw  lamented,  and,  on  the 
other,  that  he  rejoiced  in  the  temporal  as  well  as  spi- 
ritual prosperity  of  the  preachers  under  his  care.  He 
says, — 
2 


1802.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  137 

"  Monday,  5.  We  had  a  day  of  fasting  and  humiliation 
for  the  conference,  the  continent,  and  the  Church  of  God  ; 
I  improved  the  occasion,  and  spoke  from  Acts  xiv,  23.  I 
was  presented  with  a  new  impression  of  my  journal ;  it  is 
very  incorrect ;  had  I  had  an  opportunity  before  it  was 
put  to  press,  I  should  have  altered  and  expunged  many 
things  ;  the  inaccuracies  of  grammar,  and  imperfections  of 
composition  incident  to  the  hasty  notices  of  a  manuscript 
journal,  are  preserved  in  the  printed  copy.  On  Monday 
evening  the  conference  rose :  all  the  demands  of  the 
preachers  were  answered ;  money  was  advanced  toward 
the  purchase  of  horses  ;  to  those  who  had  distant  circuits 
and  far  to  go,  donations  were  made  ;  and  nearly  two  hun- 
dred dollars  very  liberally  sent  to  the  Monmouth  confer- 
ence, which  is  to  meet  in  July  next.  Within  the  circling 
lines  of  this  conference,  we  report  to  this  sitting  an  addi- 
tion to  the  society  of  three  thousand  souls  and  upward, 
besides  those  who  may  have  died  within  the  last  eleven 
months.  John  Pawson's  letter,  and  fifty  copies  of  a  volume 
of  sermons,  came  safely  to  hand  ;  his,  and  other  letters,  con- 
cerning the  work  of  God,  I  read  to  my  brethren." 

Among  other  tidings  which  came  to  him  while  at 
this  conference,  was  that  of  the  death  of  his  pious 
mother,  for  whom  he  always  felt  a  tender  and  filial 
regard  ;  and  as  she  belongs,  in  some  sense,  to  the  his- 
tory of  American  Methodism,  by  having  given  birth  to 
a  son  who  was  so  closely  identified  with  its  interests, 
I  think  the  reader  will  be  pleased  to  read  the  follow- 
ing reflections  which  the  bishop  made  on  receiving  the 
news  of  her  death.      The  following  are  his  remarks  : 

"  While  in  Baltimore,  I  received  an  account  of  the 
death  of  my  mother,  which  I  fear  is  true.  And  here  I 
may  speak  safely  concerning  my  very  dear  mother ;  her 


138  A    HISTOTIY    OF    THE  [1802. 

character  to  me  is  well  known.  Her  paternal  descent  was 
Welch  ;  from  a  family  ancient  and  respectable  by  the  name 
of  Rogers.  She  lived  a  woman  of  the  world  until  the 
death  of  her  first  and  only  daughter,  Sarah  Asbury  ;  how- 
would  the  bereaved  mother  weep  and  tell  of  the  beauties 
and  excellences  of  her  lost  and  lovely  child  !  pondering 
on  the  past  in  the  silent  suffering  of  hopeless  grief.  This 
afflictive  providence  graciously  terminated  in  the  mother's 
conversion.  When  she  saw  herself  a  lost  and  wretched 
sinner,  she  sought  religious  people,  but  *  in  the  times  of 
this  ignorance'  few  were  '  sound  in  the  faith,'  or  '  faithful 
to  the  grace  given  :'  many  were  the  days  she  spent  chiefly 
in  reading  and  prayer  ;  at  length  she  found  justifying  grace 
and  pardoning  mercy.  So  dim  was  the  light  of  truth 
around  her,  from  the  assurance  she  found,  she  was  at 
times  inclined  to  believe  in  the  final  perseverance  of  the 
saints.  For  fifty  years  her  hands,  her  house,  her  heart, 
were  open  to  receive  the  people  of  God  and  ministers  of 
Christ ;  and  thus  a  lamp  was  lighted  up  in  a  dark  place 
called  Great  Barre,  in  Great  Britain.  She  was  an  afflicted, 
yet  most  active  woman  ;  of  quick  bodily  powers,  and  mas- 
culine understanding  ;  nevertheless,  *  so  kindly  all  the  ele- 
ments were  mixed  in  her,'  her  strong  mind  quickly  felt  the 
subduing  influences  of  that  Christian  sympathy  which 
'  weeps  with  those  who  weep,'  and  'rejoices  with  those  who 
do  rejoice.'  As  a  woman  and  a  wife  she  was  chaste,  modest, 
blameless — as  a  mother  (above  all  the  women  in  the 
world  would  I  claim  her  for  my  own)  ardently  affection- 
ate ;  as  a  '  mother  in  Israel,'  few  of  her  sex  have  done  more 
by  a  holy  walk  to  live,  and  by  personal  labor  to  support  the 
gospel,  and  to  wash  the  saints'  feet ;  as  a  friend,  she  was 
generous,  true,  and  constant.  Elizabeth  Asbury  died  Janu- 
ary 6th,  1802,  aged  eighty-seven  or  eighty-eight  years. 
There  is  now,  after  fifty  years,  a  chapel  within  two  or 
three  hundred  yards  of  her  dwelling.  I  am  now  often 
2 


1802.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  139 

drawn  out  in  thankfulness  to  God,  who  hath  saved  a  mother 
of  mine,  and,  I  trust,  a  father  also,  who  are  already  in 
glory,  where  I  hope  to  meet  them  both,  after  time,  and 
cares,  and  sorrows,  shall  have  ceased  with  me  ;  and  where 
glory  shall  not  only  beam,  but  open  in  my  soul  for  ever. 
Amen." 

On  account  of  some  difficulties  in  the  Church  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  which,  it  seems,  could  not  be 
amicably  adjusted,  a  number  of  the  members  with- 
drew from  the  Church,  and  established  a  separate 
place  of  worship,  in  a  building  which  had  been  erected 
by  Mr.  Whitefield  for  an  academy,  and  in  which  he 
used  to  preach  whenever  he  visited  that  city.  Hence 
these  brethren  were  distinguished  for  a  number  of 
years  as  belonging  to  the  Academy  station. 

Believing  them  to  have  been  influenced  by  pure 
motives,  and  as  they  adhered  to  the  Methodist  doctrine, 
and  wished  to  be  supplied  with  Methodist  preaching, 
as  well  as  to  be  governed  by  our  discipline,  the  ques- 
tion was  submitted  to  the  conference,  which  sat  in 
Philadelphia  this  year,  whether  or  not  the  bishop 
should  grant  their  request  to  have  a  preacher  stationed 
over  them.  After  mature  deliberation,  it  was  agreed, 
with  only  one  dissenting  vote,  that  their  request  should 
be  granted,  on  such  terms  as  the  bishop  could  make. 
From  that  time  forward  the  Academy  was  considered 
as  a  branch  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
it  has  been  recognized  and  regularly  supplied  with 
preachers  by  the  bishops  and  conference.  And 
although  for  some  time  there  was  not  a  perfect  union 
between  them  and  those  brethren  with  whom  the  dif- 
ference originated,  yet  the  disaffection  gradually  wore 
away,  and  they  both  have  continued  to  prosper  and 

2 


140  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1803. 

increase  in  number  and  respectability  to  tbe  present 
day  ;  and  it  is  believed  that  long  since  all  alienation 
of  feeling  between  the  two  sections  has  fully  died 
away.  Indeed,  Methodism  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia has  gradually  increased  in  its  resources,  both 
temporally  and  spiritually,  from  the  period  of  its  in- 
troduction by  Captain  Webb,  in  1766,  until  the  pre- 
sent time  ;  and  although  it  has  had  its  share  of  diffi- 
culties to  contend  with,  it  has  never  been  wanting  in 
putting  forth  its  energies  in  proportion  to  its  means  for 
the  enlargement  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  both  at 
home  and  abroad. 

The  increase  of  members  for  the  present  year, 
which  may  be  seen  below,  shows  the  blessed  effects 
of  the  numerous  revivals  which  we  have  narrated  for 
the  two  preceding  years. 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.              Colored.             Total.  Preachers. 

This  year,      68,075         18,659        86,734  358 

Last  year,     57,186         15,688        72,874  307 

Increase,         10,889  2,971         13,860  51 

This  is  the  largest  increase  in  any  one  year  since 
1790,  when  it  was  14,369,  being  509  more  then 
than  now^  The  friends  of  the  cause  had  also  reason 
to  congratulate  themselves  on  the  greater  proportion- 
ate stability  and  perseverance  of  those  who  had  entered 
the  ranks  of  the  itinerancy,  there  being  a  much  less 
number  than  usually  heretofore  who  exchanged  the 
traveling  for  the  local  ministry. 

1803.  There  were  seven  annual  conferences  this 
year,  the  New-England  conference  being  held  for  the 
2 


1803.J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  141 

first  time  in  Boston,  and  the  New-York  in  Ashgrove, 
in  the  northerly  part  of  the  state  of  New-York. 

There  was  an  enlargement  of  the  work  of  God 
this  year  in  almost  every  direction,  and  "  many  peo- 
ple were  added  to  the  Lord."  The  camp-meetings 
which  had  commenced  in  the  west  under  such  favora- 
ble auspices,  continued  to  spread  with  increased  use- 
fulness, thousands  being  attracted  by  the  fame  of 
their  character,  who  otherwise  might  never  have 
heard  the  gospel.  This  year  they  were  introduced 
into  various  parts  of  the  country.  Two  were  held  in 
the  lower  parts  of  Virginia,  the  first  in  Brunswick 
county,  and  the  second  at  a  place  called  the  Barn, 
at  both  of  which  the  Lord  manifested  himself  in 
great  power  and  goodness  to  the  people. 

Similar  meetings  were  held  in  Georgia,  South  and 
North  Carolina,  and  in  Maryland,  at  all  of  which 
there  were  remarkable  displays  of  the  awakening  and 
converting  grace  of  God,  so  that  it  may  be  said  in 
truth,  there  were  great  revivals  of  religion  through  all 
those  parts  of  the  country.  At  a  field  meeting  held 
in  the  vicinity  of  Middletown,  Connecticut,  there  was 
a  gracious  work  of  God  commenced,  which  terminated 
in  the  conversion  of  a  number  of  souls. 

This  year  the  work  extended  in  the  western  part 
of  the  state  of  New-York,  and  Otsego,  Black  Rive?', 
Westmoreland,  Potnpey,  and  Ontario  were  added  to 
the  list  of  circuits  in  that  part  of  the  countr}^ 

Samuel  Merwin,  Elijah  Chichester,  and  Laban 
Clark,  were  this  year  sent  as  missionaries  to  Lower 
Canada;  and  Montreal,  St.  Johns,  and  Sorel,  were  in- 
cluded among  the  stations  on  the  minutes  of  con- 
ference.     Mr.  Merwin  visited  Quebec,  but  not  meet- 

2 


^142  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1805. 

ing  Willi  mucli  encouragement,  he  staid  only  about 
six  ^.^'ceks,  when  he  came  to  Montreal,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  year  there,  \v\^\e  Mr.  Chichester, 
who  was  in  Montreal,  returned  to  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Clark,  after  encountering  a  variety  of  difficulties 
in  striving  to  form  a  circuit  in  the  settlements  along 
the  Sorel,  was  rehictantly  compelled  to  abandon  the 
enterprise  as  hopeless,  and  he  accordingly  left  that 
part  of  the  country,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
year  among  his  brethren  in  the  United  States. 

In  the  great  revivals  of  religion  we  have  noticed, 
many  young  preachers  were  raised  up,  who  went  into 
the  world  as  flaming  heralds,  contributing  much  by 
the  energy  of  their  preaching,  and  the  faithfulness  of 
their  pastoral  duties,  to  diffuse  the  spirit  of  reforma- 
tion among  the  people. 

But  the  camp  meetings  were  among  the  most  effi- 
cient means  of  awakening  the  attention  of  the  people 
to  the  things  of  eternity. 

As  I  have,  however,  heretofore  entered  so  particu- 
larly into  the  details  of  the  character  and  good  effects 
of  these  camp  meetings,  it  seems  unnecessary  to 
repeat  them  here,  only  to  observe  in  general,  that 
wherever  they  were  introduced,  similar  effects  fol- 
lowed, until  at  length  they  became  very  general 
among  the  Methodists  throughout  the  country,  and 
were  often  seasons  of  great  "  refreshing  from  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Lord." 

Four  preachers,  namely,  Lewis  Hunt,  Edmund 
Way  man,  John  Leach,  and  Anthony  Turck,  after  hav- 
ing fulfilled  their  ministry  with  fidelity  and  usefulness, 
took  their  departure  this  year  from  a  scene  of  labor  to 
a  world  of  rest,  as  it  is  recorded  of  them  all  that  they 
S 


1803.] 


METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 


143 


died  in  peace   and   triumph.      Fourteen  located,  and 
six  were  returned  supernumerary. 

Until  last  year  the  stations  of  the  preachers  were 
printed  under  their  respective  districts,  as  Georgia^ 
South  Carolina,  &c.,  without  naming  the  conferences 
to  which  they  respectively  belonged.  In  the  year 
1802  the  name  of  the  conference  was  inserted  at  the 
head  of  the  stations,  so  that  it  might  be  perceived  at 
once  to  what  conference  each  district,  circuit,  and 
preacher  belonged.  This  year  the  same  method  was 
observed  in  taking  the  numbers,  by  which  means  the 
relative  size  and  strength  of  each  conference  might  be 
estimated.      The  following  is  the  recapitulation  of  the 


Numbers  in   the   Church. 


Conferences. 

Western 

S.  Carolina 

Virginia 

Baltimore 

Philadelphia 

New-England 

New-York 


Whites. 

7,738 
9,256 
13,099 
12,513 
24,626 
2,927 
11,458 


Colored. 

464 
2,815 
3,794 
6,414 
8,561 
14 

391 


Total. 

8,202 
12,071 
16,893 
18,927 
33,187 

2,941 
11,849 


Preachers, 


Thi 


year 


81,617      22,453       104,070      383 


Last  year  68,075      18,659         86,734      350 

Increase         13,542        3,794         17,336         33 

That  we  may  see  the  comparative  numbers  of 
each  conference  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  its 
territory,  it  is  necessary  to  know  the  number  of  dis- 
tricts, circuits,  and  preachers  of  each,  as  well  as  the 
entire  population  of  the  territory  comprehended  in  the 
bounds  of  each  conference ;  but  as  the  conferences 

2 


Conferences. 

Districts. 

Circuits. 

Preache 

Western 

3 

17 

27 

South  Carolina 

3 

19 

35 

Virginia 

4 

32 

44 

Baltimore 

4 

34 

59 

Philadelphia 

6 

49 

105 

New-England 

2 

24 

35 

New-York 

5 

38 

79 

Ml  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1803. 

were  not  oounded  by  slate  lines,  it  is  not  possible  to 
estimate  the  comparative  population  of  each ;  the 
following-  table,  however,  will  exhibit  the  number  of 
districts,  circuits,  preachers,  and  members  in  the 
several  conferences  respectively  : — 

Members. 

8,202 
12,071 
16,893 
18,927 
33,187 

2,941 
17,336 

By  comparing  the  two  largest  conferences,  Phila- 
delphia and  New-York,  we  shall  perceive  that  the  for- 
mer had  a  population  of  as  one  preacher  to  about  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  members,  and  the  latter  as 
one  preacher  to  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  mem- 
bers. This  difference  may  be  accounted  for  in  the 
sparsity  of  the  general  population  of  Vermont  and  the 
Canadas,  both  of  which  were  comprehended  in  the 
New-York  conference,  and  although  three  preachers 
were  stationed  in  Lower  Canada,  they  were  considered 
as  missionaries  sent  to  make  a  trial  for  the  introduc- 
tion of  Methodism,  and  from  which  no  members  were 
returned  :  whereas  the  Philadelphia  conference,  though 
it  embraced  much  of  the  new  counties  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Pennsylvania  and  in  western  New- 
York,  comprehended  also  the  older  settled  coun- 
ties along  the  western  bank  of  the  Hudson  River,  the 
Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania, 
and  New-Jersey,  in  some  parts  of  which  Methodism 
had,  from  its  beginning,  flourished  more  than  in  any 


1803.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  145 

Other  portion  of  our  country.  The  peninsula  of  Ma- 
ryland especially  was  considered  the  garden  spot  of 
Methodism  in  those  days^ 

If  we  take  the  Western  and  New-England  confer- 
ences, which  are  the  two  least,  we  shall  find  that  the 
latter  had  a  population  of  as  one  preacher  to  about  one 
nundred  and  twenty-two  members,  and  the  former  as 
')ne  to  four  hundred  and  eighty-two.  This  difference  is 
*.asily  accounted  for.  In  the  western  country,  the 
Methodists  were  the  evangelical  pioneers  among  the 
people,  and  amid  the  great  revivals  which  had  originated 
at  their  camp  meetings,  they  took  the  lead,  and  had 
already  reaped  a  rich  harvest  of  souls  as  the  reward 
of  their  labors  and  sacrifices  ;  while  in  New-England, 
though  the  general  population  of  the  country  was 
more  dense  than  in  the  west,  the  Methodists  had 
many  sorts  of  opposition  to  contend  with,  doctrines 
adverse  to  their  own  to  encounter,  the  prejudices  of 
education,  and  denominational  jealousies  to  oppose 
their  progress.  On  these  accounts,  Methodism  made 
but  slow  advances  in  New-England  ;  those  who  first 
joined  its  standard  were  generally  of  the  poorer  class, 
able  to  yield  but  a  scanty  support  to  the  preachers,  and 
it  had,  moreover,  to  contend  against  a  strong  current  of 
opposition  which  set  in  against  it :  hence  its  members 
were  comparatively  small  for  several  years.  Indeed, 
it  was  not  until  the  bands  of  sectarian  bigotry  were 
broken,  and  the  bland  influences  of  the  gospel  had  in 
some  measure  softened  the  asperities  arising  from  de- 
nominational peculiarities,  that  Methodism  could  stand 
erect  and  assert  her  liberties  in  New-England. 

From  a  review  of  the  work  for  the  last  three  years, 
we  find  abundant  cayse  for  thankfulness  to  the  great 

Vol.  II.— 7 


146  A    HISTORY   OP   THE  ll803. 

Head  of  the  Church  for  what  he  had  done  by  the  in- 
strumentality of  his  servants.  Methodism  began  to  be 
felt  throughout  the  country  ;  and  while  it  provoked 
the  opposition  of  some,  it  had  been  the  means  of 
stirring  up  many  other  denominations  to  put  forth 
their  efforts  for  the  spread  of  evangelical  principles 
and  holiness  through  the  land ;  and  if  "  righteousness 
exalteth  a  nation,"  may  we  not  believe  that  those 
great  revivals  of  religion  had  a  most  happy  and  con- 
servative influence  upon  our  national  character  ?  Had 
those  principles  of  infidelity  with  which  the  minds  of 
many  of  the  leading  men  of  our  nation  had  been  in- 
fected, and  which,  at  one  time,  were  descending  with 
fearful  rapidity  to  the  lower  ranks  of  society,  been 
permitted  to  operate  unchecked  by  any  other  barrier 
than  a  mere  lifeless  form  of  Christianity,  or  those 
restraints  which  a  secular  and  civil  education  might 
interpose,  is  there  not  reason  to  apprehend  that  such 
streams  of  moral  and  intellectual,  as  well  as  political 
pollution,  would  have  poured  their  poisonous  waters 
over  the  land,  as  must  have  washed  our  civil  and  reli- 
gious institutions  into  the  whirlpool  of  destruction  ? 

Without  attempting  to  disparage  other  denomina 
tions  of  Christians,  who  doubtlessly  all  contributed 
toward  checking  the  overflowings  of  ungodliness  by 
making  a  firm  stand  against  the  secret  workings  of 
infidelity,  it  must,  I  think,  be  admitted  by  all  who 
reflect  impartially  on  the  subject,  that  the  labors  of  the 
itinerating  Methodist  preachers  tended  mightily  to 
purify  the  corrupt  mass  of  mind,  and  to  awaken  at- 
tention to  spiritual  and  divine  things,  and  to  call  off  the 
attention  of  the  people  from  mere  secular  and  political 
-affairs,  to  the  momentous  concerns  of  eternity. 
2 


1803.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  147 

And  may  we  not  hence  see  a  reason  why  God 
wrought  in  such  a  remarkable  manner,  about  this  time, 
at  the  camp  and  other  meetings  ?  And  why  especially 
that  he  should  have  begun  this  work  in  the  new  coun- 
tries ?  We  know  perfectly  well,  that  in  the  settler 
ment  of  new  countries,  being  generally  destitute  of 
the  ordinary  means  of  grace,  the  minds  of  the  people 
are  apt  to  be  occupied  chiefly  with  temporal  things, 
and  thus,  by  habit,  become  forgetful  of  God  and  their 
eternal  interests.  In  this  state  of  things,  and  under  such 
influences  as  were  at  work,  our  new  territories  were  fill- 
ing and  growing  up.  And  who  should  go  after  those 
wanderers  ?  Who  should  follow  them  into  the  wilder- 
ness, and  bring  them  into  the  fold  of  Christ  ?  Let  this 
duty  devolve  on  whomsoever  it  might,  the  Methodists 
were  among  the  first  to  discharge  it.  Their  mode  of 
preaching,  too,  plain,  pointed,  searching,  extemporane- 
ous, and  itinerating  from  place  to  place,  collecting  the 
people  in  log  houses,  in  school  houses,  in  the  groves, 
or  in  barns,  was  most  admirably  adapted  to  the  state 
of  society,  and  calculated  to  arouse  the  attention  of  a 
slumbering  world  to  the  concerns  of  religion. 

Such  were  the  means  employed,  and  such  were 
the  effects  produced.  And  who  will  say  that  God  did 
not  lead  to  the  adoption  of  this  method  as  best  adapted 
to  answer  the  ends  of  redemption,  namely,  the  salva- 
tion of  the  lost.  To  awaken  the  men  of  that  gene- 
ration from  their  profound  stupor,  that  they  might 
shake  off*  the  slumbers  of  infidelity,  and  acknowledge 
the  hand  of  God  in  their  deliverance  from  the  charms 
of  error  with  which  they  were  deluded,  God,  it  seems, 
interposed  in  the  remarkable  manner  before  narrated, 
and   by    "  signs    and    wonders"    in    the    symbolical 

2 


148  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1803. 

heavens  convinced  the  people  that  he  "  ruled  in  the 
armies  of  heaven,  and  commanded  among  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  earth." 

By  this  means,  as  before  said,  the  minds  of  the 
people  were  awakened  to  their  eternal  interests,  religion 
became  the  topic  of  conversation,  of  inquiry,  and  inves- 
tigation, and  thus  that  light  was  poured  into  the  under- 
standing, and  conviction  into  the  conscience,  which 
led  men  to  see  the  errors  of  infidelity,  the  unsatisfying 
nature  of  a  mere  form  of  godliness,  and  to  feel  the 
conservative  influence  which  vital,  experimental,  and 
practical  Christianity  exerts  upon  individual  character, 
upon  social  and  civil  communities,  and  of  course  upon 
states  and  empires. 

What  though  the  keen  eye  of  criticism  might  detect 
some  errors  in  doctrine  or  extravagance  in  conduct, 
originating  from  human  weaknesses  or  unsanctified 
passions, — shall  we  cast  away  the  good  on  account  of 
the  bad  ?  Who  does  not  see  that  such  a  process 
would  lead  to  the  abandonment  of  every  institution, 
civil  as  well  as  religious,  on  earth  ?  That  thousands 
of  sinners  were  reformed,  in  heart  and  life,  the  most 
skeptical  must  acknowledge.  And  a  thoroughly  re- 
formed sinner  cannot  be  otherwise  than  a  good  citizen, 
a  good  ruler,  husband,  brother,  and  friend.  To  make 
Christian  patriots,  therefore,  is  to  purify  the  political 
atmosphere  from  all  poisonous  exhalations,  and  to 
make  it  a  healthful  medium  for  the  civil  respiration  of 
all  who  move  and  have  their  being  within  its  circum- 
ference. 

In  addition  to  the  direct  influence  which  Christian 
principles  were  thus  brought  to  exert  on  the  heart  and 
life,  the  itinerating  mode  of  preaching  had  a  tendency 
2 


1803.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  149 

in  the  natural  order  of  cause  and  effect,  to  cement  the 
hearts  of  our  citizens  together  in  one  great  brother- 
hood. It  is  well  known  that  our  civil  organization, 
into  several  state  sovereignties,  though  under  the  par- 
tial control  of  the  general  government,  naturally  tend- 
ed to  engender  state  animosities,  arising  out  of  local 
and  peculiar  usages,  laws,  customs,  and  habits  of  life. 
What  more  calculated  to  soften  these  asperities,  and 
to  allay  petty  jealousies  and  animosities,  than  a 
Church  bound  together  by  one  system  of  doctrine, 
under  the  government  of  the  same  discipline,  accus- 
tomed to  the  same  usages,  and  a  ministry  possessing  a 
homogeneousness  of  character,  aiming  at  one  and  the 
same  end — the  salvation  of  their  fellow-men  by 
means  of  the  same  gospel,  preached  and  enforced  by 
the  same  method — and  these  ministers  continually  in- 
terchanging from  north  to  south,  from  east  to  west, 
everywhere  striving  to  bring  all  men  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  same  "  bond  of  perfectness  V^  Did  not 
these  things  tend  to  bind  the  great  American  family 
together  by  producing  a  sameness  of  character,  feelings, 
and  views  ? 

And  all  this  too  without  entering  into  the  arena  of 
politics  at  all,  or  siding,  as  a  Church,  with  any  politi- 
cal party.  For  it  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church  has  never  embarked  on  the 
rough  sea  of  political  warfare.  She  has  left  all  her 
ministers  and  members  free,  to  act  as  individual  mem- 
bers of  the  civil  community  as  they  might  list,  only 
enjoining  upon  all  a  due  submission  to  the  "  powers 
that  be" — never  attempting  to  dictate  to  any  of  her 
communion  to  what  political  party  they  should  lend 
their  influence,  nor  ever  making  civil  polity  the  end  of 

2 


IfSO*  A    HISTORY    OF    THJE  [1804. 

her  exertions.  The  influence  therefore,  which  she  has 
exerted  upon  the  civil  destinies  of  the  republic,  has 
been  altogether  of  an  indirect  and  collateral  character, 
growing  out  of  that  moral  and  religious  stamp  with 
which  she  strives  to  mark  and  distinguish  all  her 
children.  That  this  conservative  influence  has  been 
felt  on  the  civil  destinies  of  our  country,  originating 
from  our  religious  institutions  and  the  mode  of  carry- 
ing them  into  effect,  is  what  is  here  contended  for, 
and  what,  it  is  believed,  all  candid,  impartial  observers 
of  the  history  of  events  and  the  connection  between 
causes  and  efiects  must  acknowledge. 

Being  foremost  in  congratulating  the  first  chief 
magistrate  of  our  republic  on  his  elevation  to  that 
high  and  responsible  office,  she  has  remained  unabat- 
edly  attached  to  the  constitution  of  the  country,  incul- 
cating obedience  to  its  magistrates  and  laws,  and  pro- 
mulgating those  doctrines  and  enforcing  those  duties 
which,  if  believed  and  discharged,  will  ensure  peace 
on  earth,  and  lead  ultimately  to  immortality  and  eter- 
nal life  in  heaven. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  General  Conference  of  1804,  and  of  the  Annual  Conferences 
of  1804-5-6-7. 

The  fourth  regular  General  Conference  assembled 
in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  on  the  7th  day  of  May,  1804. 
There  were  present  one  hundred  and  twelve  members, 
but  as  the  seats  of  five  were,  on  examination,  declared 
vacant,  because  the  persons  were  not  legally  there, 
the  conference  was  composed  of  one  hundred  and 
2 


1804.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  151 

seven  members,  namely,  four  from  New-England, 
three  from  the  Western,  five  from  South  Carolina, 
seventeen  from  Virginia,  twenty-nine  from  Baltimore, 
forty  one  from  Philadelphia,  and  twelve  from  New- 
York  Conference."^ 

Bishops  Coke,  Asbury,  and  Whatcoat  were  present 
as  presidents  of  the  General  Conference. 

*  This  is  the  first  account  I  find  of  the  names  and  number 
from  each  annual  conference.  And  as  it  may  be  satisfactory 
to  some,  the  names  are  given,  as  follows  : — 

New-England  Conference. — George  Pickering,  Joshua 
Taylor,  Thomas  Lyell,  Reuben  Hubbard. 

Western  Conference. — William  Burke,  Thomas  Milligan, 
John  Watson,  Lowther  Taylor.* 

South  Carolina  Conference. — Josiah  Randall,  George 
Dougherty,  Hanover  Dunning,  Moses  Matthews,  James 
Jenkin. 

Virginia  Conference. — Jesse  Lee,  Samuel  Risher,  Daniel 
Hall,  John  Cocks,  John  Buxton,  Humphrey  Wood,  Joseph 
Moore,  Jesse  Coe,  Jonathan  Jackson,  Christopher  Mooring, 
Daniel  Ross,  Samuel  Gerrard,  John  Gainwell,  William  Allgood, 
Alexander  M'Caine,  Joseph  Pennell,  Philip  Bruce. 

Baltimore  Conference. — John  Potts,  Solomon  Harris,  Henry 
Willis,  Enoch  George,  Hamilton  Jefferson,  Thomas  Lucas, 
John  Simmons,  Jesse  Stoneman,  William  Knox,  Lawrence 
M'Combs,  Joshua  Wells,  John  Pitts,  Henry  Smith,  Seely  Bunn, 
Peter  B.  Davis,  David  Stevens,  James  Ward,  Samuel  Coate, 
James  Quinn,  Daniel  Hitt,  Daniel  Fiddler,  John  West,  Nicho- 
las Snethen,  William  Watters,  James  Hunter,  Lasley  Matthews, 
Thornton  Fleming,  Nathaniel  B.  Mills,  James  Paynter. 

Philadelphia  Conference. — John  M'Clasky,  Thomas  Sar- 
geant,  Thomas  Ware,  Thomas  Smith,  Joseph  Everett,  William 
M'Lenehen,  David  Bartine,  Richard  Swaim,  Joseph  Totten, 
Anning  Owen,  Elijah  Woolsey,  William  Vredenburgh,  Robert 
Dillon,  Gamaliel  Bailey,  Robert  Sparks,  Joseph  Stone,  Ezekiel 
Cooper,  Walter  Fountain,  Benjamin  Bidlack,  William  Colbert, 
William  Mills,  Joseph  Jewell,  Richard  Sneath,  Johnson  Dun- 
ham, Edward  Larkins,  John  Crawford,  James  Smith,  Daniel 

2 


152  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1804. 

After  being  organized,  a  motion  was  made  and 
carried,  that  the  conference  proceed  in  the  onerous 
task  of  reading  and  revising,  in  consecutive  order,  the 
entire  Discipline,  requiring,  as  before,  that  no  old  rule 
should  be  abolished  without  the  concurrence  of  two 
thirds  of  the  members  present ;  but  a  motion  to 
require  a  vote  of  two  thirds  to  establish  a  new  rule 
was  lost.  The  right  of  fixing  the  times  for  holding 
the  annual  conferences  was  invested  in  the  bishops, 
provided  they  should  allow  each  conference  to  sit  at 
least  one  week,  while  the  places  were  to  be  fixed  by 
the  conferences  themselves. 

The  following  provision  was  made  in  regard  to 
presidents  of  conferences  in  the  absence  of  a  bishop  : 
"  But  if  there  are  two  or  more  presiding  elders  be- 
longing to  one  conference,  the  bishop  or  bishops  may, 
by  letter  or  otherwise,  appoint  the  president  ;  but  if 

Ryan,*  James  Herron,  Richard  Lyon,*  Jacob  Gruber,*  Solo- 
mon Sharp,  Gideon  Knowlton,*  William  Bishop,  Eber  Cowles, 
James  Moore,  Caleb  Kindle,  Morris  Howe,  George  Roberts, 
William  P.  Chandler,  David  James. 

New-York  Conference. — Freeborn  Garrettson,  Michael 
Coate,  Ralph  Williston,  John  Wilson,  Daniel  Ostrander,  Augus- 
tus Jocelyn,  Joseph  Crawford,  Nathan  Emery,  James  Campbell, 
Aaron  Hunt,  Abner  Wood,  Joseph  Sawyer. 

Of  these  one  hundred  and  seven  who  composed  that  confer- 
ence, only  eighteen  are  now,  (Dec.  20,  1838,)  in  the  itinerancy  ; 
G.  Pickering,  D.  Hall,  J.  Paynter,  N.  B.  Mills,  J.  Moore,  W. 
Burke,  J.  Wells,  J.  Quinn,  D.  Fiddler,  T.  Fleming,  T.  Ware, 
D.  Bartine,  E.  Woolsey,  E.  Cooper,  John  Crawford,  J.  Gru- 
ber, D.  Ostrander,  and  A.  Hunt ;  two  have  left  us,  and  some 
others  have  located  ;  but  most  of  them,  together  with  the  three 
bishops  who  then  presided,  are  dead  ;  and  fourteen  of  those  who 
belonged  to  the  conferences  hold  a  superannuated  relation. 

*  Those  marked  thus  (*)  were  not  entitled  to  a  seat,  by  a 
vote  of  the  conference.  2 


1804.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  153 

no  appointment  be  made,  or  the  presiding  elder 
appointed  do  not  attend,  the  conference  shall,  in  either 
of  these  cases,  elect  the  president,  by  ballot,  without 
debate,  from  among  the  presiding  elders." 

To  restrict  the  power  of  the  presiding  elders  in  the 
employment  of  preachers  whose  application  to  be 
received  into  the  traveling  ministry  had  been  rejected 
by  an  annual  conference,  it  was  ordered  that  such 
should  not  be  employed  without  the  consent  of  the 
conference,  "  under  certain  conditions." 

Provision  was  also  made  for  the  trial  of  a  bishop 
m  the  interval  of  the  General  Conference,  making  it 
obligatory  on  the  accusers  to  present  their  accusation 
in  writing,  a  copy  of  which  must  be  given  to  the  ac- 
cused himself.  The  bishops  were,  at  this  conference, 
prohibited  from  allowing  any  preacher  to  remain  more 
than  two  years  successively  in  any  circuit  or  station. 
This  has  been  a  standing  rule  to  the  present  time. 

As  the  articles  of  religion  were  adopted  under  the 
reign  of  the  "  old  confederation,"  the  article  re- 
specting the  government  of  the  United  States  recog- 
nized the  "  Act  of  Confederation,"  as  the  general 
bond  of  union  to  the  several  states.  At  this  confer- 
ence the  phraseology  of  that  article  was  altered  so  as  to 
recognize  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  as  the 
•supreme  law  of  the  land,  and  the  federal  union  of  the 
slates  as  a  "  sovereign  and  independent  nation"  which 
"  ought  not  to  be  subject  to  any  foreign  jurisdiction." 

The  rule  which  made  expulsion  from  the  Church 
a  penalty  for  marrying  unawakened  persons,  was  so 
altered  at  this  conference,  as  to  require  that  such 
should  be  put  back  on  trial,  with  an  explanatory  note, 
stating  that  thev  did  not  prohibit  persons  from  uniting 
7-^  2 


154  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1804. 

in  malrimony  with  those  who  are  not  members  of  our 
Church,  provided  they  have  the  form  and  are  seeking 
the  power  of  godliness. 

The  Book  Concern,  which  had  hitherto  been  carried 
on  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  was  removed  to  the  city 
of  New-York,  and  Ezekiel  Cooper  was  reappointed 
editor  and  general  book  steward,  and  John  Wilson  his 
assistant. 

A  rule  was  passed  recommending  to  the  annual 
conferences  to  restrict  our  preachers  from  improper 
publications,  making  it  obhgatory  on  them  to  submit 
their  manuscripts  to  the  book  committee  at  New- 
York,  or  to  their  annual  conference. 

It  was  ordered  that  each  quarterly  meeting  confer- 
ence should  appoint  a  secretary  to  take  down  its  pro- 
ceedings, in  a  book  to  be  kept  by  one  of  the  stewards 
of  the  circuit. 

It  was  ordered  at  this  conference  that  the  Discipline 
should  be  divided  into  two  parts,  the  first  part  to  com- 
prehend the  spiritual^  and  the  second  the  temporal 
economy ;  and  the  spiritual  part  was  directed  to  be 
printed  separately,  more  especially  for  the  benefit  of 
the  colored  members  of  the  Church  at  the  south. 

It  seems  that  in  the  address  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Conference  to  our  General  Conference, 
they  earnestly  solicited  the  return  of  Dr.  Coke,  whose* 
labors  among  them  they  highly  appreciated,  more  par- 
ticularly in  the  missionary  department  of  their  work. 
This  subject  was  referred  to  a  committee  to  consider 
and  report  thereon,  and  they  finally  agreed  to  the  fol- 
lowing, which  was  concurred  in  by  the  conference : — 

"  Dr.  Coke  shall  have  leave  from  this  General  Confer- 
ence to  return  to  Europe,  agreeably  to  the  request  of  the 
2 


1804.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  155 

European  Conferences,  provided  he  shall  hold  himself  sub- 
ject to  the  call  of  three  of  our  annual  conferences  to  return 
when  he  is  requested,  but  at  farthest,  that  he  shall  return, 
if  he  lives,  to  the  next  General  Conference." 

In  conformity  to  this  resolution,  the  following  let- 
ter was  addressed  to  the  British  Conference  : — 

"  Very  Dear  and  Respected  Brethren  : — Your  very- 
kind  and  affectionate  address,  from  your  Manchester  Con 
ference,  dated  August  5,  1803,  was  presented  to  us  by  our 
mutual  friend  and  brother,  Dr.  Coke.  We  always  have 
received,  and  hope  we  ever  shall  receive  such  addresses 
from  our  European  brethren,  with  the  most  cordial  senti- 
ments of  Christian  friendship  ;  for  it  is  our  ardent  wish 
that  the  European  and  American  Methodists  may  improve 
and  strengthen  the  bonds  of  Christian  union,  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  reciprocally  build  each  other  up  in  the  great  and 
glorious  work,  in  which  they  are  both  so  arduously  employ- 
ed. And  we  pray  God,  that  our  adorable  Jehovah  and  Re- 
deemer may  graciously  be  pleased  to  prosper  both  you  and 
us  in  the  blessed  work  of  proclaiming  the  honor  of  our 
God,  and  of  saving  the  precious  souls  of  mankind. 

"  We  truly  rejoice  in  the  information  given  us,  that  the 
gospel  of  Christ  continues  to  prevail  among  you  ;  and  that 
the  mission  among  the  native  Irish  is  marked  with  hope- 
ful and  flattering  prospects.  Also  we  are  much  pleased 
with  the  account  of  your  prosperous  mission  in  the  princi- 
pality of  Wales,  in  the  Welsh  language.  Whenever  we 
hear  of  the  prosperity  of  Zion  and  of  the  success  of  the 
gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  it  gives  us  a  pleasure  far 
superior  to  our  powers  of  expression  :  hence  we  are  ready, 
upon  such  occasions,  with  overflowing  hearts  of  love  and 
gratitude,  to  proclaim  with  shouts  of  joy  and  gladness, 
*  Not  unto  us,  not  unto  us  ;  but  unto  the  Lord'  be  more 
than  human  ascriptions  of  praise,  of  honor,  and  glory ' 

2 


160  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1804. 

May  the  united  labors  of  your  hands  be  prospered  more 
and  more  ! 

**  We  also  feel  peculiar  satisfaction  at  the  information  of 
the  union  and  harmony  which  subsist  among  you  in  doc- 
trine and  discipline  ;  and  that  you,  our  elder  brethren,  are 
steadfast  and  persevering  in  the  divine  articles  of  the 
essential  divinity  and  efficacious  atonement  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  of  all  the  benefits  and  privileges  flowing  from, 
and  connected  with  the  same  ;  we  cordially  embrace  the 
same  important  truths,  and  are  determined  to  stand  fast 
and  immovable  in  the  support  of  this  essential  foundation 
of  all  our  hopes. 

"  The  Lord  has  greatly  prospered  our  labors  in  these 
United  States.  We  have  at  present  increased  to  consider- 
ably more  than  one  hundred  thousand  members  ;  and  the 
work  still  goes  on  in  a  great  and  glorious  manner.  Our 
brethren  are  much  in  the  spirit  of  active  perseverance  in 
this  blessed  work  ;  and,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  our 
hearts  are  cemented  together  in  love,  and  are  bound  in  the 
ties  of  harmony  and  unity. 

"  With  respect  to  our  much-esteemed  friend,  and  beloved 
brother,  Dr.  Coke,  he  arrived  among  us  last  autumn,  and 
was  received  by  us  with  the  sincerest  sentiments  of  res- 
pect and  aff'ection.  Since  he  came  into  these  states,  he 
has  traveled  about  three  thousand  miles,  visiting  our  prin- 
cipal societies,  and  preaching  to  crowded  assemblies  of 
our  citizens.  His  time,  we  trust,  has  been  profitably  and 
acceptably  spent  among  us,  and  we  hope  agreeably  to 
himself.  Your  request  for  his  return  was  taken  into  our 
most  serious  and  solemn  consideration  ;  and,  after  a  full 
and  deliberate  examination  of  the  reasons  which  you  as- 
signed in  favor  of  his  return,  we  have  concluded  that  there 
is  a  probability  of  his  being  more  eminently  useful  at 
present,  in  the  way  you  point  out,  than  for  us  to  retain  him, 
especially  as  our  beloved  brother  Asbury  now  enjoys  bet- 
2 


1804.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  157 

ter  health  than  he  did  some  years  ago,  and  as  we  believe, 
with  the  assistance  he  can  receive  from  our  esteemed 
brother  Whatcoat,  the  work  of  superintending  the  Church 
and  societies  can  be  accomplished  in  the  absence  of  Dr 
Coke.  We  therefore  have  consented  to  the  doctor's  return 
to  Europe,  upon  the  express  condition  that  he  will  return 
to  us  at  any  time,  when  three  of  our  annual  conferences 
shall  call  him,  or  at  farthest,  that  he  shall  return  to  our  next 
General  Conference. 

"  And  now,  dear  brethren,  we  commend  you  to  our 
common  Lord,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  hoping  that 
you  and  we  shall  ever  remain  in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit, 
and  bonds  of  Christian  and  ministerial  affection,  until  we 
meet  together  around  the  throne  of  God.  Pray  for  us.  We 
are,  very  dear  and  much-respected  brethren,  truly  and 
sincerely  yours,  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  Signed  by  order,  and  in  behalf  of  the  General  Con- 
ference, "  Francis  Asbury, 

"  Richard  Whatcoat, 
"  John  Wilson,  Secretary. 

"  Baltimore,  May  23,  1804." 

This  year,  for  the  first  time,  I  find  the  boundaries 
of  the  several  annual  conferences  fixed  by  the  General 
Conference,  and  printed  in  the  form  of  Discipline. 
They  are  as  follows  : — 

1.  The  New-England  conference  shall  include  the 
district  of  Maine,  the  Boston,  New-London,  and  Ver- 
mont districts.  * 

2.  The  New- York  conference  comprehends  the 
New-York,  Pittsfield,  Albany,  and  Upper  Canada 
districts. 

3.  The  Philadelphia  conference  shall  include  the 
remainder  of  the  state  of  New- York,  all  New-Jersey, 
that  part  of  Pennsylvania  which  lies  on  the  east  side 


158  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1804. 

of  the  Susquehanna  River,  except  what  belongs  to  the 
Susquehanna  district,  the  state  of  Delaware,  the 
Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
Peninsula. 

4.  The  Baltimore  conference  shall  include  the 
rennainder  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Western  Shore  of 
Maryland,  the  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia,  and  the 
Greenbrier  district. 

5.  The  Virginia  conference  shall  include  all  that 
part  of  Virginia  which  lies  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Rappahannock  River  and  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and 
all  that  part  of  North  Carolina  which  lies  on  the  north 
side  of  Cape  Fear  River,  except  Washington,  also  the 
circuits  which  are  situate  on  the  branches  of  the 
Yadkin. 

6.  The  South  Carolina  conference  shall  include 
the  remainder  of  North  CaroHna,  South  Carolina,  and 
Georgia. 

7.  The  Western  conference  shall  include  the  states 
of  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio,  and  that  part  of 
Virginia  which  lies  west  of  the  great  river  Kanawha, 
with  the  Illinois  and  Natchez;  provided,  the  bishops 
shall  have  authority  to  appoint  other  yearly  con- 
ferences. 

A  bare  inspection  of  the  map  of  the  United  States 
will  show  the  immense  territory  included  in  each  of 
these  conferences';  and  when  it  is  recollected  that  the 
districts  and  circuits  were  proportionably  large,  it  will 
be  perceived  that  the  preachers  of  those  days  were  no 
"  idle  shepherds,"  but  were  emphatically  laborers  in 
this  vast  and  fruitful  field. 

These,  with  the  exception  of  some  unimportant 
verbal  amendments,  and  some  regulations  in  reference 


1804.3  METHODIST    BPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  159 

to  the  Book  Concern,  which  will  be  noticed  in  another 
place,  comprehended  the  doings  of  this  conference. 
The  conference  closed  its  session  in  peace  on  the 
23d  of  May,  and  the  members  returned  to  their  itine- 
rant labors  with  renewed  ardor,  determined  to  spend 
and  be  spent  in  the  cause  of  Jesus  Christ. 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  those  days,  that  the 
introduction  of  camp  meetings  added  a  new  stimulus 
to  the  work  of  reformation,  and  put,  as  it  were,  new 
life  and  energy  into  the  hearts  of  God's  ministers  and 
people.  They  were  accordingly  appointed  in  almost 
every  part  of  our  work,  and  were  generally  attended 
with  most  evident  manifestations  of  the  power  and 
grace  of  God.  It  was  estimated  that  about  one  thou- 
sand souls  were  brought  from  darkness  to  light,  this 
year,  at  the  various  camp  meetings  which  were  held 
in  the  states  of  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  Maryland, 
Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  and  New-York,  besides 
those  who  were  indirectly  benefited  by  these  meet- 
ings on  their  various  circuits ;  for  generally,  the 
preachers  and  people  returned  from  the  camp  meet- 
ings with  their  hearts  fired  and  filled  with  the  love  of 
God,  and  were  a  means  of  carrying  the  sacred  flame 
into  their  respective  neighborhoods,  where  it  was  en- 
kindled with  fresh  ardor,  and  burned  with  a  steady 
blaze,  consuming  the  sins  of  many  a  broken-hearted 
sinner. 

But  while  these  extraordinary  meetings  were  exert- 
ing a  hallowed  influence  upon  the  older  states,  and 
were  therefore  hailed  particularly  by  the  Methodists 
as  instruments  of  great  good  to  the  souls  of  the  peo- 
ple, those  in  Kentucky  ran  into  such  wild  excesses 
in  some  instances,  as  to  bring  them  into  disrepute  in 

2 


160  A  HISTORY   OF  THE  [1804. 

the  estimation  of  the  more    sober  part  of  the  com- 
munity. 

We  have  seen  that  some  of  the  Presbyterian  minis- 
ters were  among  the  foremost  in  promoting  tk«se 
meetings,  and  in  favoring  the  revivals  which  resulted 
from  them.  These,  however,  were  opposed  by  many 
of  their  brethren,  particularly  those  who  held  fast 
the  doctrines  of  Calvinistic  decrees,  and  blended  with 
them  the  doctrine  of  irresistible  grace,  thereby  aiding, 
indirectly,  and  without  intending  it,  the  fatalism  of  in- 
fidelity, with  which  the  minds  of  many  of  the  Ken- 
tuckians  had  been  infected.  Some  of  these  ministers, 
in  the  judgment  of  those  who  have  recorded  the  trans- 
actions of  those  days,  were  strangers  to  experimental 
religion,  and  therefore,  when  they  undertook  to 
instruct  those  awakened  sinners  who  came  to  them 
for  advice,  they  knew  not  how  to  meet  their  cases, 
nor  how  to  adapt  their  instructions  to  the  peculiar 
state  of  their  minds.  This  created  perplexity  and 
confusion.  Those  whose  souls  were  alive  to  God,  by 
having  received  a  baptism  from  above,  were  disgusted 
with  the  awkwardness  of  those  spiritual  advisers,  and 
finally  considered  them  "physicians  of  no  value." 
This  led  to  disputings,  and  finally  to  a  separation, 
which  terminated  in  1803  in  the  formation  of  what  was 
called  the  "  Springfield  Presbytery."  But  these  preach- 
ers, however  sincere  and  fervent  they  might  have  been, 
did  not  surround  themselves  with  those  guards  which 
are  essential  to  the  preservation  of  harmony,  ortho- 
doxy, and  gospel  order ;  and  hence  those  who  were 
licensed  to  preach  by  this  presbytery,  puffed  up  with 
their  sudden  elevation  to  office,  and  breathing  in  an 
atmosphere  which  inflated  them  with  spiritual  pride, 


1804.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  161 

threw  off  the  restraints  of  a  wholesome  disciphne,  and 
soon  proclaimed  those  destructive  heresies  which  are 
subversive  of  all  true  religion.  The  Springfield  Pres- 
bytery was  dissolved  in  1804,  and  some  turned 
Shakers,  and  others  ran  into  the  wildest  freaks  of  fa- 
naticism. Hence  originated  those  unseemly  exercises 
so  humiliating  to  recount,  of  jumping,  dancing,  jerking, 
barking,  and  rolling  on  the  ground,  by  which  these 
schismatics  were  at  last  distinguished  and  disgraced. 
And  to  finish  the  cUmax  of  absurdities,  in  the  midst  of 
this  "  confusion  worse  confounded,"  a  company  of 
Shaking  Quaker  preachers  from  the  state  of  New- 
York  came  among  them  with  their  new-fangled  doc 
trines,  and  "  drew  away  disciples"  after  them.  Seve- 
ral of  these  dissentient  ministers  and  quite  a  number 
of  members  were,  by  these  means,  drawn  into  this 
vortex  of  error  and  confusion. 

Another  thing  which  added  to  the  evils  so  much  to 
be  deprecated  by  every  friend  to  gospel  order,  was 
the  introduction,  by  some  men  of  eminent  talents,  and 
considerable  influence,  of  the  Socinian  and  Arian  here- 
sies. These,  indeed,  were  the  precursors,  in  some 
measure,  of  the  evils  we  have  mentioned,  and  tended, 
by  their  soft  and  subtle  speculations,  gradually  to  sap 
the  foundation  of  the  Christian's  hope,  and  to  prepare 
the  way  for  that  wild  confusion  by  which  many  minds 
became  bewildered.  These  things,  as  before  stated, 
tended  to  bring  camp  meetings  into  disrepute  in 
Kentucky,  and  not  a  little  to  strengthen  the  cause  of 
skepticism — an  infidelity  to  which  many  were  strongly 
inclined,  and  which  always  battens  itself  upon  the 
foibles  and  faults  of  religious  professors— a  sort  of 

2 


163  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1804 

food  exactly   suited    to    the   vitiated    and    voracious 
appetite  of  an  unbelieving  multitude. 

But  while  these  things  were  transacting  among 
those  who  slid  off  from  the  mountain  of  gospel  truth, 
the  Methodists  generally,  and  most  of  the  Presbyte- 
rians who  had  favored  these  revivals,  descried  the 
danger  from  afar,  and  gave  the  alarm  to  their  people. 
The  latter,  however,  separated  themselves  from  both 
the  old  Presbyterians,  who  were  supposed  to  be  de- 
fective in  experimental  religion,  and  too  tenacious  of 
the  peculiarities  of  Calvinism,  and  from  those  wild 
fanatics  we  have  already  described,  and  established  a 
community  of  their  own  under  the  jurisdiction  of  what 
has  been  called  "  The  Cumberland  Presbytery.""^ 
These  have  continued  to  increase  in  numbers  and 
respectability  to  the  present  time,  and  no  doubt  have 
exerted  a  salutary  religious  influence  within  the 
sphere  of  their  labors. 

The  Methodists,  however,  adhered  to  their  stand 
ards,  and  promoted  the  cause  of  the  revivals  without 
involving  themselves  in  the  responsibility  of  those 
wild  rhapsodies  and  unseemly  gesticulations  which 
hung  on  the  skirts  of  the  camp  and  other  meet- 
ings in  Kentucky.  The  union  which  had  subsisted 
between  the  different  denominations  became,  from  va- 
rious causes,  weaker  and  weaker,  until  finally  each, 
arranging  itself  under  its  own  standard,  and  using 
those    religious   appliances    which    were    considered 

•This  presbytery,  which  was  not  established  until  1810, 
abjured  the  offensive  features  of  Calvinism,  adopted  the  Armi- 
nian  doctrine  of  general  redemption,  the  universality  of  the 
atonement  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  dispensed  with  a  liberal  educa- 
tion as  a  necessary  prerequisite  of  a  gospel  minister. 
2 


1804.J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  163 

lawful  and  expedient,  endeavored  to  promote  the  cause 
of  piety  in  its  own  peculiar  way,  without  improperly 
interfering  with  its  neighbor.  And  although,  from  the 
causes  we  have  enumerated,  camp  meetings  became 
unsavory  in  most  places  in  Kentucky,  their  birth-place, 
they  traveled  into  the  new  state  of  Ohio,  and  there 
displayed  the  banners  of  the  cross  with  all  that  vigor 
and  success  which  had  marked  their  progress  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  and  also  without  suffering  a 
deterioration  from  the  wild  excesses  heretofore  depre- 
cated. What  added  to  the  beneficial  influence  of 
these  meetings  in  Ohio,  and  tended  to  diffuse  the  spirit 
of  reformation  among  the  people  in  these  new  settle- 
ments, was,  that  many  who  had  caught  the  sacred  flame 
in  Kentucky,  from  1803  to  1806,  as  if  impelled  by  an 
invisible  power,  emigrated  to  Ohio ;  and  while  the 
Church  was  being  sifted  in  Kentucky,  and  under  the 
searching  operation  of  a  gospel  discipline,  much  of 
the  chaff  was  winnowed  out,  these  pious  emigrants 
were  preparing  a  habitation  for  themselves  and  their 
children  in  a  more  congenial  soil,  better  suited,  from 
various  circumstances,  for  the  cultivation  and  growth 
of  the  fruits  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

This  year  William  Burke  was  the  presiding  elder 
of  the  Ohio  district,  and  he  contributed  much  by  his 
labors  and  sacrifices  to  extend  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom in  that  newly-settled  country.  While  William 
M'Kendree  continued  his  labors  in  Kentucky,  and  ex- 
erted all  his  powers  to  check  the  progress  of  fanati- 
cism which  he  saw  afflicting  the  Church,  as  well  as  to 
confirm  the  wavering  and  the  doubting,  Mr.  Burke, 
aided  by  several  young  men  of  zeal  and  perseverance, 
was-  carrying  the  spiritual  warfare  into  the  enemy's 


164  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1804. 

territories  in  Ohio,  and  thus  was  preparing  the  way  of 
the  Lord  in  that  rising  part  of  our  country. 

This  year  a  strong  effort  was  made  to  introduce 
Methodism  into  the  town  of  Marietta.  In  many  places 
in  the  adjoining  settlements  it  had  taken  firm  hold  of 
the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  several  flourishing  cir- 
cuits had  been  formed  ;  but  as  yet  no  impression  had 
been  made  upon  the  inhabitants  in  Marietta,  the  oldest 
town  in  the  state,  and  in  which  the  Congregationalists 
held  the  religious  sway.  This  year  a  camp  meeting 
was  appointed  by  the  Rev.  George  Askins,  on  the 
public  land  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  village  ; 
but  though  it  was  rendered  a  blessing  to  the  people 
of  God  who  assembled  from  a  distance,  no  permanent 
impression  appeared  to  be  made  on  those  for  whom  it 
was  chiefly  intended,  and  the  meeting  broke  up  with 
little  hopes  in  the  hearts  of  the  preachers.  They  all 
agreed,  however,  to  pray  for  an  outpouring  of  the 
Spirit  upon  that  place.  The  next  year,  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Jacob  Young  and 
George  C.  Light,  another  meeting  was  appointed, 
which  was  attended  with  the  most  blessed  results ; 
and  among  others  who  were  made  partakers  of  the 
grace  of  life  was  a  professed  disciple  of  Thomas 
Paine,  by  the  name  of  Jonas  Johnson.  The  change 
wrought  in  him  was  great  and  visible  ;  and,  being  a 
most  charming  singer,  by  the  exercise  of  his  gift  and 
his  general  deportment,  he  exerted  great  influence 
over  others,  and  was  instrumental  of  much  good.  He 
committed  his  infidel  books  to  the  flames,  substituting' 
in  their  place  the  Bible  and  Hymn  book,  and  other 
religious  books,  and  opened  his  house  as  well  as  his 
heart  to  the  messengers  of  salvation.     A  class  was 


1804.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  165 

soon  formed  of  happy  believers,  which  continued  to 
flourish  and  increase  in  strength  and  numbers,  and  to 
exert  a  hallowed  influence  for  many  years  on  the  sur- 
rounding population ;  and  the  church  in  Marietta, 
though  at  times  suffering  from  the  disaffection  of  some 
of  its  members,  stands  among  her  sister  churches  in 
Ohio  as  one  of  the  stars  to  enlighten  the  minds  of 
those  who  "  sit  in  the  land  and  shadow  of  death." 

While  these  things  were  going  on  in  the  western 
states  the  Lord  was  not  unmindful  of  other  parts  of 
his  vineyard.  As  has  already  been  related,  by  means 
of  camp  meetings,  which  may  be  considered  as  usher- 
ing in  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  revivals  of  religion, 
the  work  of  God  spread  rapidly  in  many  parts  of  the 
older  states.  In  addition  to  the  general  notice  already 
taken  of  those,  we  may  remark  that  this  year  there 
was  an  encouraging  revival  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  not  less  than  one  hundred  souls  had  been  con- 
verted to  God,  and  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ, 
under  the  labors  of  Joshua  Wells  and  his  colleagues. 

In  Bedford,  Amherst,  and  Campbell  counties  in 
Virginia,  and  some  other  places,  under  the  labors  of 
Stith  Mead,  the  Lord  poured  out  his  Spirit,  and  more 
than  eleven  hundred  souls  were  brought  into  gospel 
liberty  in  about  six  months. 

In  the  province  of  Maine  there  was  a  gracious 
work  of  God  in  several  places.  This  began  at  the 
conference  which  was  held  in  the  town  of  Buxton, 
upward  of  forty  souls  having  been  born  unto  God 
during  the  conference.  In  Bethel  and  Readfield  the 
work  of  God  prevailed  to  a  considerable  extent.  In 
Mississippi  there  was  a  number  brought  to  the  know 
ledge  of  the  truth. 

2 


166  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1804. 

This  year  Benjamin  Young  was  seni  as  a  mission- 
ary to  Illinois,  which  at  that  lime  contained  but  few 
inhabitants,  and  these  chiefly  descendants  of  the 
French,  who  first  settled  in  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia. 
in  1720.  But  though  thus  early  explored  by  the 
French,  and  settlements  commenced,  the  progress  of 
the  population  in  Illinois  was  extremely  slow,  as  it  is 
said  that  in  1800  the  whole  number  of  inhabitants 
was  only  two  hundred  and  fifteen,  and  the  territory 
was  not  erected  into  an  independent  state  until  1818. 
Since  that  time,  however,  it  has  filled  up  with  inhabit- 
ants with  a  surprising  rapidity.  The  missionary  so 
far  succeeded  in  his  labors  that  there  were  returned, 
on  the  minutes  for  the  next  year,  sixty-seven  mem- 
bers. 

This  year,  also,  Nathan  Bangs  solicited  and  obtained 
the  appointment  of  a  missionary  to  a  new  settlement 
on  the  River  Thames,"^  in  Upper  Canada.  This 
place  had  long  been  on  his  mind  as  a  promising  field 
for  missionary  labor,  and  he  had  frequently  offered 
himself  to  explore  it  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  but  his 
presiding  elder  objected,  on  account  of  the  feeble  state 
of  his  health  and  the  unhealthiness  of  the  climate. f 

While  at  the  conference  in  New- York  this  year,  he 

*  This  place  was,  through  mistake,  printed  on  the  minutes. 
La  French. 

t  Perhaps  no  part  of  our  country  is  more  subject  to  fever  and 
ague,  or  "  lake  fever,"  as  it  was  called,  than  that  along  the 
banks  of  the  River  Thames,  occasioned  by  the  stagnant  swamps 
which  are  formed  a  little  distance  from  the  river  on  each  side, 
and  the  unwholesomeness  of  the  water  which  the  people  were 
obliged  to  use.  The  missionary  arrived  there  in  the  month  of 
August,  and  in  the  month  of  September  the  fever  began  to  rage  ; 
and  during  its  progress,  in  almost  every  family  less  or  more 
2 


1P04.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  167 

made  known  his  desires  and  impressions  to  Bishop  As- 
bury,  and  he  appointed  him  a  missionary  to  that  place. 
He  accordingly  left  the  city  of  New- York  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  month  of  June,  went  into  Upper  Canada  by 
the  way  of  Kingston,  thence  up  the  country  along  the 
north-western  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  to  the  Long 
Point  circuit,  and  thence  on  through  Oxford  to  the 
town  of  Delaware,  on  the  River  Thames.  Here  he 
lodged  for  the  night  in  the  last  log  hut  in  the  settle- 
ment, and  the  next  morning,  as  the  day  began  to 
dawn,  he  arose  and  took  his  departure,  and  after 
traveling  through  a  wilderness  of  forty-five  miles, 
guided  only  by  marked  trees,  he  arrived  at  a  solitary  log 
house  about  sunset,  weary,  hungry,  and  thirsty,  where 
he  was  entertained  with  the  best  the  house  could 
afford,  which  was  some  Indian  pudding  and  milk  for 
supper,  and  a  bundle  of  straw  for  his  bed.  The  next 
day,    about  twelve  o'clock,    he   arrived  at  an  Indian 

were  sick,  and  in  some  instances  every  member  of  a  family  was 
prostrated  at  the  same  time,  though  it  seldom  proved  mortal. 

When  the  missionary  first  visited  their  houses,  he  was  generally 
presented  with  a  bottle  of  whisky,  and  urged  to  partake  of  it 
as  a  preservative  against  the  fever ;  but  he  declined  the  beve- 
rage, and  told  them  they  might,  if  they  chose,  drink  their 
whisky,  and  he  would  drink  water  and  tea,  and  see  who  would 
have  the  better  health ;  and  when  the  fever  commenced  its 
ravages,  as  above  described,  so  that  he  could  visit  scarcely  a 
house  without  seeing  more  or  less  sick,  he  constantly  traveled 
the  country  in  health,  until  about  the  close  of  the  sickly  season, 
when  he  too  was  seized  with  the  prevailing  disease,  but  by  timely 
remedies  he  escaped  with  only  three  paroxysms.  This  is 
mentioned  chiefly  to  show  the  mistaken  notion  under  which 
many  people  labor,  who  suppose  that  the  use  of  ardent  spirits 
is  a  preventive  against  any  epidemical  disease.  It  is  believed 
that  it  induces  it  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  instead  of  prevent- 
ing it. 


168  A    HISTORY  OF  THE  [1804. 

village  on  the  north  bank  of  the  River  Thames,  the  in- 
habitants of  which  were  under  the  instructions  of  two 
Moravian  missionaries.  While  there  the  Indiana 
were  called  together  for  worship,  which  was  perform- 
ed in  a  very  simple  manner,  by  reading  a  short  dis- 
course, and  singing  a  few  verses  of  a  hymn.  The 
missionaries  and  the  Indians  treated  him  with  great 
respect  and  affection,  and  seemed  to  rejoice  in  the 
prospect  of  having  the  gospel  preached  to  the  white 
settlements  on  the  banks  of  the  river  below. 

About  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  he  arrived  at  the  first  house 
in  the  settlement,  when  the  following  conversation 
took  place  between  the  missionary  and  a  man  whom 
he  saw  in  the  yard  before  the  house.  After  the  in- 
troductory salutation,  the  missionary  inquired,  "  Do 
you  want  the  gospel  preached  here  ?"  After  some 
deliberation,  it  was  answered,  "  Yes,  that  we  do.  Do 
you  preach  the  gospel  ?"  "  That  is  my  occupation." 
"  Alight  from  your  horse,  then,  and  come  in,  will  you?" 
"  I  have  come  a  great  distance  to  preach  the  gospel 
to  the  people  here,  and  it  is  now  Saturday  afternoon, 
to-morrow  is  the  Sabbath,  and  I  must  have  a  house  to 
preach  in  before  I  get  off  from  my  horse."  After  a 
few  moments  of  consideration,  he  replied,  "  I  have  a 
house  for  you  to  preach  in,  provender  for  your  horse, 
and  food  and  lodging  for  yourself;  and  you  shall  be 
welcome  to  them  all  if  you  will  dismount  and  come 
in."  Thanking  him  for  his  kind  offer,  the  missionary 
dismounted  and  entered  the  hospitable  mansion  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  saying,  Peace  be  to  this  house.  A 
young  man  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  ten  miles  down 
the  river,  inviting  the  people  to  attend  meeting  at  that 
house  the  next  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 
2 


1804.3  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  169 

At  the  time  appointed  the  house  was  filled.  When 
the  missionary  rose  up,  he  told  the  people  that  when- 
ever a  stranger  makes  his  appearance  in  a  place  the 
people  are  generally  anxious  to  know  who  he  is, 
whence  he  came,  where  he  is  going,  and  what  his 
errand  is  among  them.  "  In  these  things,"  said  he,  "  I 
will  satisfy  you  in  few  words."  He  then  gave  them 
a  short  account  of  his  birth  and  education,  of  his 
conversion  and  call  to  the  ministry,  and  the  motives 
which  induced  him  to  come  among  them,  and  con- 
cluded in  the  following  manner  :  "  I  am  a  Methodist 
preacher,  and  my  manner  of  worship  is  to  stand  up 
and  sing,  and  kneel  in  prayer ;  then  I  stand  up  and 
take  a  text  and  preach,  while  the  people  sit  on  their 
seats.  As  many  of  you  as  see  fit  to  join  me  in  this 
method,  you  can  do  so;  but  if  not,  ^u  can  choose 
your  own  method."  When  he  gave  out  his  hymn, 
they  all  arose,  every  man,  woman,  and  child.  When 
he  kneeled  in  prayer,  they  all,  without  exception, 
kneeled  down.  They  then  took  their  seats,  and  he 
stood  up  and  gave  out  his  text,  "  Repent  ye,  therefore, 
and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted 
out,  when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  ;"  and  he  preached,  as  he  thinks, 
with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven.  Hav- 
ing concluded  his  discourse,  he  explained  to  his  audi- 
ence his  manner  of  preaching,  by  itinerating  through 
the  country,  his  doctrine,  and  how  supported,  &c. 
He  then  said,  "  All  you  who  wish  to  hear  any  more 
such  preaching,  rise  up" — when  every  man,  woman, 
and  child  stood  up.  He  then  told  them  they  might 
expect  preaching  there  again  in  two  weeks. 

Such  a  commencement,  in  a  strange  place,  he  con- 
Vol.  U.—8 


170  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1801 

sidered  as  a  token  for  good.  He  then  sent  on  ap 
poiiUments  through  the  settlements  along  down  the 
river,  which  he  filled  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  above, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  great  cordiality. 
He  proceeded  down  the  shore  of  Lake  St.  Clair,  visit- 
ed Sandwich,  on  the  Canada  side  of  the  outlet  of  the 
lake,  crossed  over  to  Detroit,"^  and  preached  in  J,he 
council-house,  thence  to  Fort  Maiden,  and  down  the 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  in  a  settlement  made  up  of  Ameri- 
cans, English,  Scotch,  Irish,  and  Dutch  emigrants. 
The  people  everywhere  flocked  together  to  hear  the 
word. 

A  more  destitute  place  he  had  never  found.  Young 
people  had  arrived  to  the  age  of  sixteen  who  had 
never  heard  a  gospel  sermon,  and  he  found  a  Methodist 
family  who  h?fd  lived  in  that  country  for  seven  years 
without  hearing  a  sermon  preached.  But  although 
the  people  generally  were  extremely  ignorant  of  spi- 

*  Detroit,  at  that  time,  seemed  to  be  a  most  abandoned 
place.  On  his  second  visit,  the  missionary  was  introduced 
to  a  Congregational  minister,  who  told  him  that  he  had 
preached  in  Detroit  until  none  but  a  few  children  would  come 
to  hear  ;  and,  said  he,  if  you  can  succeed,  which  I  very  much 
doubt,  I  shall  rejoice.  On  the  third  visit,  which  was  on  Sab- 
bath, sure  enough,  only  a  few  children  came  to  the  place  of 
worship,  and  no  one  appearing  to  take  any  interest  in  hearing 
the  gospel  preached  there,  our  missionary  shook  off  the  dust 
of  his  feet  as  a  testimony  against  them,  and  took  his  departure 
from  them.  In  about  four  weeks  after  this,  the  town  was  con- 
sumed by  fire.  The  report  was  that  it  took  fire  from  a  man 
smoking  a  segar  in  a  stable,  and  the  houses  being  chiefly  built 
with  wood,  the  flames  spread  so  rapidly  that  nearly  every  house 
on  each  side  of  the  main  street  was  consumed. 

It    was,     however,    soon    rebuilt,    and     has    since    greatly 
flourished,  and  now  we  have  a  large  and  influential  church  in 
that  place. 
2 


1805.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  171 

ritual  things,  and  very  loose  in  their  morals,  they 
seemed  ripe  for  the  gospel,  and  hence  received  and 
treated  God's  messenger  with  great  attention  and 
kindness.  He  continued  among  them  about  three 
months,  when  he  left  them  for  the  Niagara  circuit,  in- 
tending to  return  again  soon,  but  was  prevented.  He 
was  succeeded  the  next  year  by  William  Case,  who 
was  instrumental  of  great  good  to  the  souls  of  the  peo- 
ple. Societies  and  a  regular  circuit  were  formed, 
which  have  continued  to  flourish  and  increase  to  the 
present  time. 

Forty-eight  preachers  located  this  year,^  two  were 
expelled,  and  four,  namely,  William  Ormond,  Nathan 
Jarrett,  Rezin  Cash,  and  David  Bi'own,  had  died  ; 
having  fulfilled  their  ministry  with  fidelity,  they  ended 
their  lives  and  labors  in  peace. 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.        Preachers. 

This  year,     89,603        23,531       113,134  400 

Last  year.     81,617         22,453       104,070  383 

Increase,  7,986  1,078  9,064  17 

1805.  There  were  seven  annual  conferences  held 
this  year  ;  and  the  minutes  were  so  arranged  that  the 
stations  of  the  preachers,  as  well  as  the  questions  and 
answers,  w^ere  printed  under  their  respective  confer- 
ences, so  that  it  might  be  seen,  at  one  view,  what  was 
the  relative  strength  of  each  section  of  the  work. 

*  Among  these  was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Lyell,  who  soon  after 
joined  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  succeeded  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Pillmoor,  in  the  city  of  New- York.  He  is  still  living-, 
and  has  maintained  a  reputable  standing  in  that  Church,  and 
retains,  it  is  believed,  his  affection  for  his  Methodist  brethren. 

2 


173  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1805 

Nothing  oul  of  the  ordinary  course  of  things  oc 
curred  this  year.  The  work  of  God  went  gradually 
on,  and  much  good  was  accomplished  by  means  of  the 
ministry  of  the  word  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 
The  camp  meetings  spread  more  and  more  in  the  mid- 
dle and  northern  states,  and  they  were  generally  at- 
tended with  increasing  interest  ;  many,  from  the 
novelty  of  their  character  being  induced  to  attend, 
who  might  otherwise  never  have  heard  the  sound  of 
the  gospel ;  and  not  a  few  of  these  were  brought  to 
serious  and  solemn  thought. 

This  year,  for  the  first  time,  a  camp  meeting  was 
held  on  tKe,  Bay  of  Quintie  circuit  in  Upper  Canada, 
which  was  attended  by  the  writer,  being  the  first  he 
ever  witnessed.  It  was  held  in  an  open  field,  and  the 
exercises  were  accompanied  by  a  mighty  display  of 
the  awakening  and  converting,  as  well  .as  sanctifying 
grace  of  God.  On  the  third  day  of  the  meeting  such 
awful  sensations  were  produced  under  the  preaching, 
that  many  stout-hearted  sinners  were  bowed  before 
the  Lord,  while  the  people  of  God  were  "filled  with 
joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory."  A  great  revival 
of  religion  was  the  consequence  of  this  blessed  meet- 
ing, particularly  in  the  Bay  of  Quintie  and  Augusta 
circuits,  which  eventuated  in  the  conversion  of  hun- 
dreds of  precious  souls. 

In  the  state  of  New- York,  among  others,  Croton 
had  been  selected  as  a  suitable  place  for  camp  meet- 
ings, and  for  many  years  was  considered  as  a  hallowed 
spot  on  which  the  people  of  God  from  the  city  of 
New-York,  and  the  neighboring  circuits,  assembled  for 
the  worship  and  service  of  the  triune  God.  And 
here  many  sinners  have  been  born  of  the  Spirit,  who 
2 


1805.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  173 

perhaps,  otherwise  might  never  have  heard  the  joyful 
sound  of  salvation.  It  has,  however,  latterly  been 
abandoned  for  another  place. 

This  year  the  Church  was  called  to  mourn  over  the 
demise  of  some  of  her  most  eminent  and  useful 
ministers. 

Of  Tobias  Gibson,  who  first  carried  the  gospel  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Mississippi,  we  have  already  spoken. 
He  is  represented  as  a  modest,  unassuming  man, 
deep  in  Christian  experience,  and  most  indefatigable 
in  his  labors.  His  ardent  thirst  for  the  salvation  of 
souls  often  led  him  to  those  exertions  which  were  too 
much  for  his  physical  strength  ;  and  these,  together 
with  his  frequent  exposures  in  the  midst  of  the  west- 
ern wildernesses,  to  cold  and  hunger,  and  to  sleepless 
nights  on  the  ground,  laid  the  foundation  for  those  in- 
firmities which  finally  prostrated  his  feeble  frame  and 
brought  him  to  a  premature  grave. 

He  preached  his  last  sermon  on  New- Year's  day, 
in  1804.  Its  powerful  and  searching  appeals  were 
made  a  blessing  to  many  ;  and  long  did  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Natchez,  which  was  the  principal  theatre 
of  his  labors  in  the  west,  remember  his  fervent 
prayers  and  faithful  admonitions,  particularly  of  those 
which  accompanied  this  his  last  effort  for  their  salva- 
tion. Being  greatly  esteemed  by  the  people  of  God, 
as  well  as  honored  by  all  who  could  estimate  true 
worth  of  character,  they  mourned  over  his  departure 
from  among  them,  as  one  mourneth  over  a  son  that 
served  him.  But  while  they  beheld  his  calmness  of 
spirit  amid  the  sufferings  of  his  body,  his  meekness, 
patience,  and  resignation  to  the  divine  will,  as  death 
approached,  as  well  as  the  firm  hope  of  everlasting 

2 


174  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1805 

life  with  which  he  anticipated  his  dissolution,  they 
saw  such  indubitable  evidences  of  the  reality  and  ex- 
cellence of  Christianity,  that  they  could  but  naingle 
with  their  sorrows  the  rejoicings  of  such  as  have  hope 
in  God.  Infidelity  itself  shrunk  from  an  inspection 
of  his  life,  and  recoiled  at  a  view  of  that  death  which, 
though  dark  and  gloomy  in  itself,  was  surrounded  with 
so  brilliant  a  light  as  to  render  the  path  into  the  other 
world  luminous  and  inviting. 

Such  was  Tobias  Gibson — such  were  his  .abors 
and  sufferings — such  his  deep  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  Christ — and  such  the  peaceful  and  triumphant  man- 
ner of  his  death — that  he  has  left  a  name  and  charac- 
ter behind  him  which  "  shall  be  had  in  everlasting 
remembrance." 

Nicholas  Waiters  was  another  of  those  burning 
and  shining  lights  which,  after  having  enlightened  the 
world  for  a  season,  was  this  year  extinguished  by 
death.  He  was  the  brother  of  William  Watters,  the 
first  Methodist  preacher  raised  in  America,  and  enter- 
ed the  itinerating  ministry  very  soon  after  his  younger 
brother.  They  were  natives  of  Maryland,  and  after 
traveling  and  preaching  with  great  acceptance  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  and  South 
Carolina,  and  Georgia,  on  the  lOlh  of  August,  1804, 
he  ended  his  life  and  labors  in  peace,  in  the  city  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

Wilson  Lee  also  exchanged  the  labors  of  an  itine 
rant  minister  for  the  crown  of  glory  prepared  for  the 
faithful.  He  entered  the  traveling  connection  in  1784, 
and  soon  went  into  the  western  country,  where  he 
continued  in  the  exercise  of  his  ministry,  exposed  to 
all  the  hardships  incident  to  an  itinerating  life  in  new 


1805.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  175 

settlements,  until  1792,  when  he  returned  to  the  older 
states,  and  was  stationed  on  Salem  circuit,  New-Jersey. 
From  1801  to  1803  he  filled  the  office  of  presiding 
elder  in  the  Baltimore  district.  In  1804  he  found 
himself  unable  longer  to  do  the  duties  of  an  efficient 
preacher,  and  was  accordingly  returned  on  the  super- 
annuated list.  In  the  month  of  April  of  this  year, 
w^hile  at  prayer  by  the  bed  of  a  sick  person,  he  had 
a  sudden  discharge  of  blood  from  the  lungs  ;  and  from 
that  time  he  lingered  along  the  shores  of  mortality 
until  October  11,  1804,  when  he  died  full  of  the 
hope  of  immortality,  at  the  house  of  Walter  Worth- 
ington,  Ann  Arundel  county,  in  the  state  of  Mary- 
land. 

Wilson  Lee  has  been  considered  among  the  most 
laborious,  successful,  and  self-denying  of  our  early 
ministers.  Though  naturally  of  a  slender  constitution, 
he  hazarded  the  hardships  of  an  itinerating  life  in  the 
western  country,  and  exhibited  there  all  that  self-de- 
votion, hardy  enterprise,  and  untiring  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  God,  which  distinguished  those  men  of  God 
who  planted  the  standard  of  the  cross  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  As  he  rode 
from  one  settlement  to  another,  and  from  fort  to  fort, 
he  was  often  exposed  to  the  ferocious  savages  of  the 
wilderness,  as  well  as  to  hunger  and  thirst,  to  tiresome 
days  and  sleepless  nights.  But  his  unquenchable 
thirst  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  his  strong  faith  in  God, 
and  his  burning  zeal  to  advance  his  holy  cause,  im- 
pelled him  on  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  amid  those 
''perils  in  the  wilderness,"  rejoicing  in  being. counted 
worthy  to  suffer  a  little  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Here  he   spent  the  best  of  his  days,  and   exhausted 

2 


176  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1805. 

his  strength  in  striving  to  win  souls  to  Jesus  Christ ; 
and  when  he  returned  to  his  brethren  in  the  older 
settlements,  with  a  constitution  shattered  by  the  inten- 
sity of  his  labors,  it  was  only  to  share  with  them  in 
pursuing  the  path  of  obedience  to  his  divine  Master, 
and  filling  up  what  remained  of  the  afflictions  of 
Christ.  Professing  the  justifying  and  sanctifying  grace 
of  God,  he  bore  all  things  with  patience,  exhibiting  in 
his  spirit  an  example  of  meekness  and  gentleness,  in 
his  personal  appearance  of  neatness  and  plainness,  and 
in  all  his  deportment  modesty  united  with  a  firmness 
of  purpose  in  carrying  into  execution  the  discipline 
of  the  Church.  He,  indeed,  left  nothing  he  could  do 
undone  which  he  deemed  essential  to  promote  the 
cause  of  God.  But  his  ever  active  mind,  his  perse- 
vering industry  in  his  Master's  work,  operated  so  pow- 
erfully upon  the  material  vehicle,  that  "  the  weary 
wheels  of  life  stood  still,"  while  in  the  meridian  of  his 
life  and  usefulness.  He  left,  however,  a  name  be- 
hind him,  which  was  long  remembered  vi^ith  affection 
and  veneration  by  those  of  his  cotemporaries  who  sur- 
vived him,  and  an  example  of  devotedness  to  the 
cause  of  God  which  has  stimulated  many  laborers 
to  activity  and  diligence  in  cultivating  their  Master's 
vineyard. 

Benjamin  Jones,  John  Durhin,  and  Daniel  Ryan, 
of  each  of  whom  it  is  said  that  he  filled  up  his  days  in 
usefulness,  took  their  departure  to  a  better  world  in 
the  course  of  last  year. 

Two  preachers,  namely,  Cyrus  Stebbins  and  Roger 
Searl,  withdrew   from  the  connection,  and  joined  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
2 


1806.]  >fETHODTST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  17? 

Nwnhers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.         Preachers. 

This  year,      95,629        24,316      119,945  433 

Last  year,     89,603        23,531       113,134  400 

Increase,  6,026  785  6,811  33 

1806.  The  seven   annual  conferences   were  held 
this  year  in  the  usual  manner. 

This  year  a  paper  was  submitted  to  the  annual 
conferences,  beginning  with  the  Baltimore  conference, 
by  Bishop  Asbury,  in  favor  of  calling  a  General  Con- 
ference, of  seven  delegates  from  each  annual  confer- 
ence, to  meet  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  in  May,  1807, 
for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  the  episcopacy. 
This  paper  was  referred  to  a  committee,  to  consider 
and  report  thereon,  and  all  the  conferences,  except 
Virginia,  reported  in  favor  of  the  proposition,  and 
elected  their  delegates  accordingly.  The  report  set 
forth  that,  in  consequence  of  the  declining  health  of 
Bishop  Whatcoat,  who  was  then  supposed  to  be  near 
his  end,  the  great  extension  of  our  work  over  the  con- 
tinent, and  the  debihtated  state  of  Bishop  Asbury's 
health,  it  had  become  necessary  to  strengthen  the 
episcopacy,  and  likewise  to  provide  for  a  more  per- 
manent mode  of  church  government.  ^  The  report, 
therefore,  recommended  that  each  of  the  seven  annual 
conferences  should  elect  seven  delegates  to  meet  in 
the  city  of  Baltimore  the  succeeding  May,  and  that, 
when  so  met,  they  should  have  power  to  elect  one 
bishop  or  more,  and  also  to  provide  for  a  future  dele- 
gated General  Conference,  whose  powers  should  be 
defined  and  limited  by  constitutional  restrictions;  for 
hitherto  the  General  Conference  possessed  unlimited 
8^  2 


178  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1806 

powers  over  our  entire  economy,  could  alter,  abolish, 
or  add  to  any  article  of  religion  or  any  rule  of  Dis- 
cipline. As  this  depository  of  power  was  considered 
too  great  for  the  safety  of  the  Church  and  the  security 
of  its  government  and  doctrine ;  and  as  the  assembling 
of  all  the  elders,  few  or  many,  at  the  option  of  each 
annual  conference,  made  the  representation  very 
unequal ;  and  moreover,  if  all  came  who  had  a  right 
to  a  seat,  involved  a  great  amount  of  expense,  time,  and 
money,  Bishop  Asbury  was  exceedingly  desirous,  before 
he  should  depart  hence,  to  provide  a  remedy  for  these 
evils ;  and  this  desire  was  strengthened  and  excited  to 
action  at  this  time  by  the  concurrent  views  and  wishes 
of  most  of  the   oldest  preachers   in   the  conferences. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  that  this  plan  was  concurred  in, 
and  the  delegates  were  elected  by  all  the  annual  confer- 
ences, until  it  was  submitted  to  the  Virginia  conference, 
where,  being  warmly  opposed  by  the  Rev.  Jesse  Lee, 
who  had  great  influence  in  that  conference,  a  majority 
voted  against  its  adoption,  and  so  the  whole  plan  was 
abandoned  for  thepresent — for  itwas  the  understanding 
that,  unless  all  the  conferences  concurred  in  the  measure, 
it  should  not  be  carried  into  efifect.  This  defeat  of  a 
favorite  project,  so  feasible  in  itself,  and  apparently  so 
necessary  to  the  prosperity  of  the  Churcli  and  the 
perpetuity  of  her  institutions,  was  a  source  of  great 
grief  to  Bishop  Asbury,  as  well  as  of  regret  to  those 
who  had  concurred  in  his  views. 

After  the  return  of  Dr.  Coke  to  Europe,  he  saw  fit 
to  change  his  relation  from  a  single  to  a  married  life. 
He  had  married  a  Christian  lady  of  a  large  fortune,  of 
deep  piety,  and  of  ardent  devotion  to  the  cause  of  God, 
which  she  evinced  after  her  marriage  by  cheerfully  con- 
2 


1806.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  179 

secratingher  income  to  advance  the  missionary  cause,  in 
which  she  found  her  husband,  Dr.  Coke,  so  deeply  and 
zealously  engaged.  This  fact  he  thought  proper  to  com- 
municate to  his  American  brethren,  together  with  a  pro- 
position to  become  a  resident  in  America,  on  the  condi- 
tion that  the  continent  should  be  divided  into  two  parts, 
one  of  which  to  be  under  his  superintendency,  and  the 
other  under  the  superintendency  of  Bishop  Asbury. 
This  proposition  was  submitted  to  the  several  annual 
conferences,  and  an  answer  was  returned  to  the  doc- 
tor congratulating  him  on  his  happy  marriage,  but  de- 
clining to  accept  of  his  proposal  for  a  division  of  the 
work  in  this  country  according  to  his  request,  referring, 
however,  the  final  decision  of  the  question  to  the  next 
General  Conference. 

This  year  Methodism  was  introduced  into  some 
parts  of  Louisiana.  This  territory  had  been  recently 
purchased  by  the  United  States  from  the  French  gov- 
ernment for  the  sum  of  fifteen  millions  of  dollars,  and 
was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  1811.  The  country 
was  originally  settled  by  the  Spaniards  and  French, 
the  descendants  of  whom,  to  distinguish  them  from 
other  white  inhabitants  who  have  emigrated  to  the 
country,  are  called  Creoles.  In  a  large  portion  of  the 
country  the  French  language  and  manners  prevailed,  and 
their  rehgious  faith  and  practice  were  regulated  by  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  ;  but  as  the  country  is  fast 
filling  up  by  Anglo-Americans,  and  has  been  for 
some  time  connected  with  the  Union  as  an  integral 
part  of  the  great  American  family,  the  language,  man- 
ners, and  institutions  of  Louisiana  are  becoming  more 
and  more  conformed  to  those  generally  prevailing  in 
other  sections  of  the  repubhc. 

2 


180  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1806. 

At  the  time,  however,  of  which  we  now  speak, 
there  were  comparatively  but  few  American  settlers  in 
the  country,  and  these  were  scattered  thinly  in  the 
wilderness  or  mingled  among  the  French  and  Spanish 
inhabitants.  As  to  true  religion,  it  was  a  stranger  to 
most  of  the  people.  Those  who  made  any  profession 
at  all  were  chiefly  of  the  Roman  Catholic  communion, 
and  these  were  exceedingly  loose  in  their  morals,  and 
much  given  up  to  sports  and  plays.  The  Sabbath 
was  neglected  as  a  day  of  sacred  rest,  or  only  attended 
to  as  a  religious  festival,  alternately  for  devotional  ex- 
ercises and  profane  revelry.  This  being  the  general 
state  of  society  as  formed  by  the  Creoles  of  the  coun- 
try, it  could  not  be  otherwise  expected  than  that  the 
emigrants  who  settled  among  them  should  gradually 
assimilate  to  their  manners,  modes  of  thinking  and 
acting.  Hence  it  is  stated  that  profaneness  of  almost 
all  sorts  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent,  when,  in  1806, 
the  Rev.  Elisha  W.  Boivman  made  his  entrance  among 
them  as  a  messenger  of  the  cross  of  Christ. 

The  Mississippi  district  was  this  year  under  the 
presiding  eldership  of  the  Rev.  Learner  Blackman^ 
whose  charge  included  Natchez,  Wilkinson,  Claiborney 
Ochitta,  and  Appalousas  circuits,  to  the  last  of  which 
Mr.  Bowman  was  sent,  with  a  view,  if  practicable,  to 
form  societies  and  establish  regular  preaching.  He 
penetrated  into  some  of  the  English  settlements  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi  River,  amid  many  pri- 
vations and  hardships,  and  in  some  places  was  received 
by  the  people  with  gladness,  while  in  others  both  him- 
self and  his  message  were  rejected.  He  succeeded, 
however,  in  collecting  congregations,  and  in  forming  a 
regular  circuit,  and  a  few  classes,  made  up  principally 
2 


1806.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  181 

of  members  who  had  removed  from  the  older  states, 
who  were  happily  reclaimed  from  their  backslidden 
state  by  his  instrumentality.  The  Rev.  Thomas 
Lasley  labored  on  the  Ochitta  circuit,  which  he 
found  in  a  similar  condition,  in  respect  to  religion  and 
morals,  to  that  of  Appalousas.  The  success  with 
which  they  cultivated  this  distant  and  wild  field  of 
labor  may  be  estimated  from  the  fact  that  they 
returned  forty  members  of  the  Church,  and  that  they 
opened  the  way  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the 
work  by  those  who  succeeded  them,  though  it  was 
some  time  before  Methodism  gained  much  influence 
in  that  part  of  the  country. 

This  year  a  new  district  was  formed,  called  the 
Lower  Canada  district,  which  included  Montreal^ 
Quebec,  and  Ottawa.  I  have  before  spoken  of  Mon- 
treal and  Ottawa.  Nathan  Bangs  volunteered  his 
services  for  Quebec.  After  spending  a  few  weeks  in 
Montreal,  to  supply  them  until  their  preacher,  Samuel 
Coate,  arrived,  he  sailed  down  the  River  St.  Lawrence 
for  Quebec,  and  arrived  there  on  Saturday  morning. 
Having  a  few  letters  of  introduction,  he  delivered 
them,  and  by  great  exertions  succeeded  iii  hiring  a 
room  and  getting  it  seated  that  day,  and  he  preached  his 
first  sermon  on  the  Sabbath  morning  following  to  a 
tolerable  congregation. 

The  majority  of  the  people  in  Quebec  were  French 
Roman  Catholics,  bigotedly  attached  to  all  their  pe- 
culiarities, and,  of  course,  opposed  to  all  Protestant 
innovations.  The  next  in  number  and  influence  were 
the  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  next  to 
them  the  Church  of  Scotland,  all  manifesting  a  deadly 
opposition  to  Methodism.      He  found,  however,  a  few 

2 


182  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1806 

who  received  liim  cordially,  though  with  much 
timidity.  Among  others  he  called  on  a  Scotch  mis- 
sionary by  the  name  of  Dick,  who  had  succeeded  in 
collecting  a  small  congregation,  and  was  treated  by 
him  with  much  affection  and  respect. 

It  would  doubtless  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader 
to  enter  into  a  detail  of  the  difficulties  with  which  he 
had  to  contend,  the  mental  trials  he  underwent  in 
striving  to  plant  the  gospel  in  that  hardened  place, 
with  but  small  means  of  support,"^  and  few  to  coun- 
tenance his  undertaking.  For  a  while  the  congregation 
was  respectable,  as  to  numbers,  but  they  soon  dwindled 
down  to  not  more  than  a  dozen  steady  hearers,  and 
not  more  than  three  or  four  of  these  seemed  to  be 
under  religious  impressions.  He  has  frequently 
held  a  prayer  meeting  with  only  one  besides  himself, 
when  each  would  pray  and  then  dismiss  the  meeting, 
though  inwMrdly  conscious  of  the  divine  approbation, 
yet  with  but  faint  hopes  of  success.  He,  however, 
formed  a  small  society,  which,  under  more  faithful 
and  skilful  laborers,  has  since  increased  to  a  consider- 
able number,  and  Methodism  has  now  a  firm  stand- 
ing in  Quebec. 

An  attempt  was  also  made  this  year  to  establish  a 
mission  for  the  benefit  of  the  French  Catholic  popu- 
lation of  Lower  Canada,  and  William  Snyder,  who 
understood  and  could  preach  in  the  French  language, 
was  appointed  to  this  service.      He  entered  upon  his 

*  In  those  days  we  had  no  missionary  society  to  furnish  pe- 
cuniary aid  to  those  preachers  who  went  to  "  break  up  new 
ground,"  as  it  was  called,  though  Bishop  Asbury  was  in  the 
habit  of  begging  as  he  passed  through  the  country  to  supply 
the  wants  of  the  most  needy. 
2 


1806.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  183 

work  in  a  French  settlement,  in  the  vicinity  of  Ottawa 
River,  and  for  a  time  was  cordially  received  and  list- 
ened to  with  much  attention,  so  that  great  hopes  were 
entertained  of  a  successful  issue  of  his  labors.  Hav- 
ing occasion,  however,  to  be  absent  from  his  field  of 
labor  for  a  few  weeks,  the  parish  priest  took  the  op- 
portunity to  go  among  the  people  and  warn  them  of 
the  danger  of  hearing  the  "  Protestajit  heretic," 
threatening  them  with  excommunication — which,  in 
their  estimation,  was  a  sure  prelude  to  damnation — 
if  they  did  not  desist.  This  so  wrought  upon  their 
fears,  that,  upon  the  return  of  brother  Snyder,  not  a 
soul  dared  to  hear  him  or  to  receive  him  into  his 
house.  He  was,  therefore,  reluctantly  compelled  to 
abandon  the  enterprise  in  despair,  nor  has  any  thing 
been  done  effectually  for  those  people  since.  The 
charms  of  Roman  Catholicism  still  hold  them  in  bond- 
age to  their  priests. 

In  Massachusetts  also,  and  in  the  province  of 
Maine,  the  work  so  extended  that  New-Bedford^ 
Northfield,  C  entr  eh  arbor  ^  Durham,  and  Vassalborough 
circuits  w^ere  formed,  while  the  work  in  many  places 
on  the  older  circuits  was  going  forward  with  encourag- 
ing prosperity.  Alonongahela,  Lycoming,  and  Staun- 
ton circuits,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Baltimore  con- 
ference, were  this  year  added  to  the  list,  which  shows 
that  the  good  work  was  still  extending  in  the  frontier 
settlements. 

But  the  most  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
was  among  the  people  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Mary- 
land, and  in  some  parts  of  Virginia,  chiefly  through  the 
agency  of  a  camp  meeting  which  was  held  on  the 
Eastern   Shore    at  which,  during  the  five  days  and 

2 


184  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1806. 

nights  it  continued,  it  is  stated  that  not  less  than  one 
thousand  souls  were  converted.  This  had  been  a 
favored  place  for  Methodism  from  the  time  of  its  intro- 
duction ;  and  this  great  work  gave  it  a  new  impulse, 
and  added  fresh  vigor  to  the  souls  of  God's  ministers 
and  people.  Religion,  indeed,  prospered  generally 
throughout  the  bounds  of  the  conferences,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  increase  of  church  members. 

Bishop  Asbury,  though  deprived  of  the  aid  of  his 
devoted  colleague  in  consequence  of  sickness,  attended 
to  his  duties  with  his  usual  diligence,  and  was  much 
cheered  with  the  prospects  which  loomed  up  before 
him  in  various  parts  of  the  work,  more  especially  by 
the  agency  of  the  camp  meetings,  many  of  which  he 
attended,  and  entered  into  their  exercises  with  all  the 
ardor  of  a  youthful  minister.  We  find  him  this  year 
in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio,  traversing  the 
new  settlements,  and  encouraging  his  brethren  and 
sons  in  the  ministry,  by  his  presence  and  example. 
Being  in  the  state  of  Kentucky  during  one  of  their 
camp  meetings,  he  says,  "  I  ventured  on  the  camp 
ground  again,  and  preached  at  eight  o'clock.  I  was 
weak  and  unwell,  but  was  divinely  assisted  while  en- 
larging on  Philip,  i,  1.  May  this  weighty  subject  rest 
on  the  minds  of  the  preachers,  and  on  none  more  than 
the  heart  of  the  speaker  !" 

After  speaking  of  the  Western  conference,  he  says, 
"  The  brethren  were  in  want,  and  could  not  suit 
themselves  ;  so  I  parted  with  my  watch,  my  coat,  and 
my  shirt."  This  was  an  instance  of  generosity  rarely 
to  be  met  with,  and  shows  the  deep  interest  he  felt  for 
his  suffering  fellow-laborers  in  that  rugged  field. 

Finishing  his  work  in  this  part  of  his  charge,  he 
2 


1806.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  185 

recrossed  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  in  doing  which, 
he  says,  "  One  of  the  descents  is  hke  the  roof  of  a 
house  for  nearly  a  mile.  I  rode,  I  walked,  I  sweat, 
I  trembled,  and  my  old  knees  failed.  Here  are  gullies, 
and  rocks,  and  precipices;  nevertheless,  the  way  is  as 
good  as  the  path  over  the  Table  Mountain — bad  -is 
the  best."  He  passed  on  through  North  and  South 
Carolina,  and  in  the  city  of  Charleston  he  rested  for  a 
few  days  from  his  toils,  though  he  says  that  he  was 
"neither  unemployed  nor  triflingly,"  but  was  happy  in 
the  midst  of  his  friends,  and  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts which  kindness  could  bestow."  "  If  we  call," 
he  remarks,  "  for  social  prayer  seven  times  a  day, 
there  are  none  to  complain;  the  house  is  our  own, 
and  profane  people  board  not  with  us.  My  time  is 
spent  in  reading,  writing,  and  receiving  all  who  come, 
whites  and  Africans" — ''God  the  Lord  is  here." 
What  a  contrast  between  his  external  comforts  here, 
and  those  which  he  enjoyed  in  many  other  places  ! 
But  while  he  could  say  in  every  place,  "God  the 
Lord  is  here,"  he  could  not  be  otherwise  than  happy 
and  contented  inwardly. 

Among  the  deaths  of  preachers  which  occurred 
this  year  was  that  of  Bishop  Whatcoat,  who  departed 
this  life  at  the  house  of  Richard  Bassett,  Esq.,  ex- 
governor  of  the  state  of  Delaware,  on  the  5th  of  July, 
1806,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age.  Of  his 
early  life,  conversion,  and  call  to  the  ministry,  we 
have  already  spoken,  when  giving  an  account  of  his 
election  and  consecration  to  the  episcopal  office. 
From  that  important  period  of  his  life,  he  gave  "  full 
proof  of  his  ministry,"  fulfilHng  his  high  trust  with 
fidelity,  honored  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

2 


186  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1806. 

From  the  time  of  his  entrance  upon  his  work  as  an 
itinerant  superintendent  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  until  he  was  disabled  by  sickness  and  debility, 
he  traveled  regularly  through  his  vast  diocese,  which 
extended  over  the  entire  continent,  preaching  almost 
every  day  to  the  people,  visiting  the  annual  confer- 
ences, sometimes  in  company  with  his  venerable  col- 
league, Bishop  Asbury,  and  sometimes  alone,  dis- 
charging his  responsible  duties  with  marked  satisfac- 
tion to  all  concerned.  A  complication  of  painful 
diseases  arrested  his  career  of  usefulness,  and  com- 
pelled him  to  remit  those  public  labors  in  which  his 
soul  had  so  long  delighted.  For  thirteen  weeks  he 
bore,  with  the  most  exemplary  patience,  and  devout 
resignation  to  the  divine  will,  the  excruciating  pains 
with  which  his  body  was  afflicted,  expressing,  in  the 
midst  of  them  all,  his  failh  in  Christ  and  his  firm  hope 
of  everlasting  life,  and  finally  triumphed  over  the  "last 
enemy,"  being  "  more  than  a  conqueror  through  Him 
who  loved  him." 

Bishop  Asbury,  some  time  after  Bishop  Whalcoat's 
death,  visiting  the  place  of  his  sepulture,  at  the  Wesley 
Chapel,  in  Dover,  Del.,  preached  his  funeral  sermon 
from  2  Tim.  iii,  10,  "  But  thou  hast  fully  known  my 
doctrine,  manner  of  life,  purpose,  faith,  long-suffering, 
charity,  patience."  In  the  course  of  his  sermon  he 
remarked,  in  substance,  "  I  have  known  Richard 
Whatcoat,  from  the  time  I  was  fourteen  years  of  age 
to  sixty-two  years  most  intimately,  and  have  tried  him 
most  accurately  in  respect  to  the  soundness  of  his 
faith,  on  the  doctrines  of  human  depravity,  the  com- 
plete and  general  atonement  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  in- 
sufl^iciency  of  either  moral  or  ceremonial  righteousness 

2 


1806. j  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  187 

for  justification,  in  opposition  to  faith  alone  in  the  merit 
and  righteousness  of  Christ,  and  the  doctrine  of  regene- 
ration and  sanctification.  I  have  also  known  his  man- 
ner of  life,  at  all  times  and  places,  before  the  people, 
both  as  a  Christian  and  a  minister;  his  loncr-sufferincr, 
for  he  was  a  man  of  great  affliction,  both  of  body  and 
mind,  having  been  exercised  with  severe  diseases  and 
great  labors."  And  from  this  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  man  and  his  work,  the  bishop  declares,  that 
such  was  his  unabated  charity,  his  ardent  love  to  God 
and  man,  his  patience  and  resignation  amid  the  una- 
voidable ills  of  life,  that  he  always  exemplified  the 
tempers  and  conduct  of  a  most  devoted  servant  of  God, 
and  of  an  exemplary  Christian  minister. 

As  he  had  lived  for  God  alone,  and  had  assiduously 
consecrated  all  his  time  and  powers  to  the  service  of 
his  church,  so  he  had  neither  time  nor  inclination  to 
"lay  up  treasures  upon  earth" — hence  it  is  stated 
that  he  died  with  less  property  than  was  suflficient  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  his  funeral.  He  could  there- 
fore  say  more  in  truth  than  most  of  the  pretended  suc- 
cessors of  St.  Peter,  who  is  claimed  by  some  as  the 
first  link  in  the  episcopal  succession,  "  Silver  and  gold 
have  I  none,  but  such  as  I  have,"  "  my  soul  and  body's 
powers,"  I  cheerfully  consecrate  to  the  service  of  God 
and  man. 

These  remarks  of  themselves  sufficiently  indicate 
the  character  of  the  deceased,  without  saying  any  thing 
more  ;  yet  it  may  be  proper  to  add  that  though  we  do 
not  claim  for  him  deep  erudition  nor  extensive  science, 
he  was  profoundly  learned  in  the  sacred  Scriptures, 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  Wesleyan  theology,  and 
well  versed  in  all  the  varying  systems  of  divinity  with 
2 


188  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1806. 

which  the  Christian  world  has  been  loaded,  and  could 
therefore  *'  rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth,  giving  to 
everyone  his  portion  of  meat  indue  season."  For  gravity 
'^f  deportment,  meekness  of  spirit,  deadness  to  the  world, 
and  deep  devotion  to  God,  perhaps  he  was  not  excelled, 
if  indeed  equalled  by  any  of  his  contemporaries  or 
successors.  "  Sober  without  sadness,  and  cheerful 
without  levity,"  says  the  record  of  his  death,  he  was 
equally  removed  from  the  severe  austerity  of  the 
gloomy  monk,  and  the  lightness  of  the  facetious  and 
empty-brained  witling.  His  words  were  weighed  in 
the  balance  of  the  sanctuary,  and  when  uttered,  either 
in  the  way  of  rebuke,  admonition,  or  instruction,  they 
were  calculated  to  "minister  grace  to  the  hearer." 
It  is  said,  that  on  a  particular  occasion,  when  in  com- 
pany with  Bishop  Asbury,  the  latter  was  complaining 
loudly  of  the  perpetual  annoyance  of  so  much  use- 
less company  :  Bishop  Whatcoat,  with  great  modesty 
and  meekness,  mildly  remarked,  "  O  bishop,  how 
much  worse  should  we  feel  were  we  entirely  neglect- 
ed !"  The  former  bowed  an  acquiescence  to  the 
remark,  and  acknowledged  his  obligations  to  his 
amiable  colleague  for  the  seasonableness  of  the  reproof, 
but  much  more  for  the  manner  in  which  it  was  admi- 
nistered— an  occurrence  alike  creditable  to  them  both. 
His  preaching  is  said  to  have  been  generally  attended 
with  a  remarkable  unction  from  the  Holy  One.  Hence 
those  who  sat  under  his  word,  if  they  were  behevers 
in  Christ,  felt  that  it  was  good  to  be  there,  for  his  doc- 
trine distilled  as  the  dew  upon  the  tender  herb,  and 
as  the  rain  upon  the  mown  grass.  One  who  had 
heard  him  remarked,  that  though  he  could  not  follow 
him  in  all  his  researches — intimating  that  he  went  be- 
2 


1806.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  189 

yond  his  depth  in  some  of  his  thoughts — yet  he  felt 
that  he  was  hstening  to  a  messenger  of  God,  not 
only  from  the  solemnity  of  his  manner,  but  also  from 
the  "  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord," 
which  so  manifestly  accompanied  his  word.  The  soft 
ness  of  his  persuasions  won  upon  the  affections  of  the 
heart,  while  the  rich  flow  of  gospel  truth  which  drop 
ped  from  his  lips  enlightened  the  understanding. 

Such  was  Bishop  Whatcoat.  And  while  we  justly 
attribute  to  him  those  qualities  which  constitute  an 
"able  minister  of  the  New  Testament,"  we  present,  as 
the  distinguishing  trait  of  his  character,  a  meekness 
and  modesty  of  spirit  which,  united  with  a  simplicity 
of  intention  and  gravity  of  deportment,  commended  him 
to  all  as  a  pattern  worthy  of  their  imitation.  So  dear 
is  he  in  the  recollection  of  those  who,  from  personal  in- 
tercourse, best  knew  and  appreciated  his  worth,  that  I 
have  heard  many  such  say,  that  they  would  give  much 
could  they  possess  themselves  of  a  correct  resem- 
blance of  him  upon  canvass.  But  as  he  has  left  no 
such  likeness  of  himself  behind,  we  must  be  content 
with  offering  this  feeble  tribute  of  respect  to  his 
memory,  and  then  strive  so  to  imitate  his  virtues  that 
we  may  at  last  see  him  as  he  is,  and  unite  with  him 
in  ascribing  "  honor  and  dominion  to  him  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb  for  ever." 

Benjamin  Iliff  also,  after  traveling  about  four  years, 
in  which  he  won  the  confidence  and  affection  of 
all  who  knew  him,  was  taken  from  his  labors  to  his 
rest  in  heaven,  bidding  adieu  to  his  friends  with  these 
words,  *'  I  have  lost  sight  of  the  world.  Come,  Lord 
Tesus,  come  quickly." 

Two,  namely,  Ralph   Williston^  and   Comfort  C 
2 


100  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1807 

Smith,  withdrew  from  llic  Cimrch  ;  the  former  con- 
nected himself  first  with  liie  Lutheran,  and  then  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  settled  for 
some  time  in  the  city  of  New-York,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  the  south. 

One,  Sylvester  Foster,  was  expelled,  forty-eight 
were  located,  ten  returned  supernumerary,  and  six 
superannuated. 

Numbers  in   the   Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.       Preachers. 

This  year  103,313  27,257  130,570  452 
Last  year        95,629        24,316      119,945        433 

Increase  7,684  2,941         10,625  19 

1807.  Seven  conferences  were  held  this  year,  at 
which  Bishop  Asbury,  being  deprived  of  the  services 
of  his  colleague.  Bishop  Whatcoat,  was  obliged  to 
attend  alone,  and  to  discharge  the  duties  devolving 
upon  the  episcopal  office.  Speaking  of  this  hard  toil, 
after  traveling  through  Vermont,  New-Hampshire,  and 
part  of  Massachusetts,  he  exclaims,  "Must  I  walk 
through  the  seven  conferences,  and  travel  six  thousand 
miles  in  ten  months  ?"  This,  however,  by  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  he  was  enabled  to  do,  though  it  cost  him 
many  a  wearisome  day,  in  clambering  the  mountains, 
and  crossing  the  valleys,  in  his  journey  from  one  extreme 
part  of  the  continent  to  the  other.  In  these  journey- 
ings  he  was  frequently  compelled  to  lodge  in  taverns; 
but,  whatever  might  be  the  character  of  the  house  or 
the  people,  he  always  made  it  a  point  to  propose 
prayer  in  every  place  where  he  stopped,  though  it 
might  be  only  for  a  breakfast  or  dinner,  and  seldom 
was  he  denied   this  privilege.     In  this  way  he  per- 


1807.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  191 

formed  the  work  of  a  inissionanj,  in  the  most  emphati- 
cal  sense  of  that  word.  But  that  which  he  considei'ed 
more  than  a  compensation  for  all  labors  and  sacri- 
fices— sacrifices  to  which  few  modern  missionaries 
submit,  was  the  consolation  of  religion  in  his  own 
heart,  and  the  spread  of  the  work  of  God  in  almost 
e^cry  part  of  the  continent. 

This  year  John  Travis  was  sent  to  form  a  new  cir- 
cuit in  the  new  territory  of  Missouri.  Missouri  at 
that  time  was  considered  a  part  of  Louisiana,  and  the 
first  settlers  were  chiefly  of  the  Roman  Catholic  per- 
suasion ;  but  the  tide  of  emigration,  which  was  then 
setting  toward  the  west  with  a  strong  current,  was 
rolling  the  inhabitants  from  the  older  states  into  that 
country  with  great  rapidity,  and  every  year  with  in- 
creasing numbers.  Though  this  territory  was  not 
admitted  into  the  Union  until  1820,  yet  at  this  time 
there  were  in  it  not  less  than  16,000  inhabitants, 
about  one-fifih  of  whom  were  slaves.  Though  on  the 
western  bank  of  the  Mississippi  River  the  land  is  low 
and  swampy,  and  of  course  untenable  and  unhealthy, 
yet  beyond  this  the  lands  rise  in  beautiful  undula- 
tions, and  when  brought  under  cultivation,  proved  to  be 
rich  and  fertile,  and  therefore  invited  the  industrious 
husbandman  to  take  up  his  residence  on  them. 

Though  the  population  ^vas  sparse,  the  roads  bad, 
and  the  people  generally  averse  to  tlie  self-denying 
truths  of  the  gospel,  Mr.  Travis  succeeded  in  attract- 
ing the  attention  of  some  to  the  things  of  religion,  and 
he  returned  the  next  year,  as  the  fruit  of  his  labor, 
fifty-six  members  of  the  Church  ;  and  the  work  of  God 
has  continued  to  spread  through  that  south-western 
section  of  country,  keeping  pace  with  the  extension  of 

2 


192  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1807 

the  settlements  as  they  gradually  penetrated  farther 
and  still  farther  into  the  woods  and  prairies  of 
Missouri. 

Notwithstanding  Savannah,  the  chief  city  in  the  state 
of  Georgia,  was  visited  by  that  distinguished  servant 
of  God,  the  Rev.  John  Wesley,  as  early  as  1736,  in 
the  very  infancy  of  the  colony,  yet  it  seenns  that  no 
effectual  efforts  had  been  made  since  his  departure 
amid  the  unmerited  reproach  heaped  upon  him  by 
his  enemies,  to  plant  Methodism  in  that  place  until 
this  year.  Wesley  left  the  town  in  1737,  and  in 
1740  Whitefield,  who  succeeded  Wesley,  founded 
his  orphan  house,  which  remains  only  to  tell  the  be- 
nevolence of  its  founder  in  connection  with  the  failure 
of  his  project — -for  it  has  long  since  crumbled  to 
ruins — but  it  appears  that  during  the  seventy  years  of 
interval  from  the  time  that  Wesley  left  those  ungrate- 
ful people,  no  opening  was  presented  for  the  esta- 
blishment of  Methodism,  until  1807. 

It  is  true  that,  as  early  as  1790,  Hope  Hull  was 
sent  to  Savannah,  and  he  preached  a  few  times  in  a 
chair-maker's  shop  belonging  to  a  Mr.  Lowry  ;  but 
such  was  the  opposition  manifested  toward  him  that 
he  was  assailed  with  mob  violence,  and  his  success 
was  small  and  the  prospects  very  discouraging.  He 
was  followed,  in  1796,  by  Jonathan  Jackson  and 
Josiah  Randle,  but  they  left  the  place  without  making 
any  permanent  impression.  In  1800  John  Garvin  made 
an  ineffectual  attempt  to  collect  a  society  in  Savannah, 
and  though  he  succeeded,  with  many  difficulties,  in 
inducing  a  few  to  attend  his  meetings  for  a  season, 
yet  he  also  abandoned  the  place  in  despair.  The  next 
attempt  was  made  by  a  Mr.  Cloud,  an  apostate  from 
2 


IS07.]  METHOblST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  103 

Methodism,  but  who  assumed  the  name  of  a  Me- 
thodist preacher  for  the  nonce  ;  and  though  he 
attracted  some  attention  for  a  short  time,  and  even  pro- 
cured from  the  corporation  the  lease  of  a  lot  on  which 
he  erected  some  buildings,  yet  he  was  soon  forsaken 
by  the  people,  and  left  to  his  own  wanderings.  This 
movement  only  tended  to  increase  the  existing  preju- 
dices of  the  people  against  the  Methodists,  and  accord- 
ingly rendered  their  future  progress  the  more  difficult. 

At  the  South  Carolina  conference  held  in  Sparta, 
Georgia,  December  29,  1806,  the  subject  of  making 
another  attempt  to  establish  Methodism  in  Savannah 
was  presented  to  the  conference  by  a  forcible  appeal 
from  some  warm  friends  of  the  cause.  Bishop  As- 
bury,  whose  heart  burned  with  intense  desire  for  the 
prosperity  of  religion,  and  who  always  had  his  eye 
fixed  on  all  important  posts,  pressed  the  subject  upon 
the  conference  with  great  earnestness,  and  the  confer- 
ence responded  to  the  call  with  much  cordiality  and 
zeal.  Commending  the  case  to  the  Church  for  spe- 
cial prayer,  Samuel  Dunwody,  at  that  time  young  in 
the  ministry,  but  humble,  bold,  and  zealous  in  the 
cause  of  his  Master,  was  selected  by  the  bishop,  and 
sent  to  Savannah.  He  at  first  procured  a  small  room, 
where  he  taught  some  children,  and  his  ministerial 
labors  were,  for  a  time,  confined  to  the  family  where 
he  resided,  to  his  school-room,  poor-house  and  hospital. 
At  the  end  of  the  year  he  returned  twelve  members, 
five  whites  and  seven  colored,  as  the  reward  of  his 
labors. 

Though  a  small  beginning  was  thus  made,  it  was 
some  time  before  Methodism  was  established  in  Sa- 
vannah.     The  prejudices  of  the  people  rose  high,  and 

Vol.  II  —9 


194  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1807. 

the  cause  was  much  impeded  by  the  imprudent  con- 
duct of  two  of  the  preachers  who  succeeded  Mr. 
Dunwody.  But,  after  hard  toiUng,  they  finally  suc- 
ceeded, by  sohciting  aid  from  various  parts  of  the 
coimtry,  in  erecting  a  house  of  worship  in  1812, 
which  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  almighty  God 
by  Bishop  Asbury,  and  was  called  Wesleij  Chapel. 
This  took  place  about  seventy-five  years  after  the  town 
was  visited  by  John  Wesley,  and  the  spirit  which 
vented  itself  in  opposition  to  him  seems  to  have  de- 
scended to  their  posterity,  and  shown  itself  in  similar 
acts  of  hostility  to  his  followers  ;  yet  by  patient  perse- 
verance in  well-doing,  this  prejudice  has  been  mea- 
surably overcome,  and  the  cause  of  Methodism  has 
taken  a  firm  stand  in  Savannah,  and  is  exerting  a  salu- 
tary influence  on  its  citizens. 

This  was  a  very  prosperous  year  generally  through- 
out the  connection,  and  many  were  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth  and  added  to  the  Church 
through  various  parts  of  the  United  States.  In  the 
older  states  the  camp  meetings  were  multiplied,  and 
attended  with  the  most  happy  consequences,  particu- 
larly in  Maryland,  Delaware,  Virginia,  and  Georgia. 
In  the  city  of  New-York  there  was  a  remarkable 
revival  of  religion,  attended,  in  some  instances,  with 
symptoms  similar  to  those  which  had  been  exhibited 
at  the  camp  meetings  in  the  western  country. 

James  Lattomus  and  Peter  Jayne  took  their  depart- 
ure to  a  world  of  rest,  leaving  a  testimony  behind 
them  of  devotedness  to  the  cause  of  God.  Thirty-two 
were  located,  six  returned  supernumerary,  eight  super- 
annuated, and  one,  Nathan  Felch,  had  withdrawn  and 
connected  himselfwith  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  195 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.        Preachers. 

This  year        114,727      29,863      144,590^      516 
Last  year         103,313      27,257      130,570        452 

Increase  11,414        2,606         14,020  64 


CHAPTER  VII. 
The  General  Conference  of  1808. 

This  conference  assembled  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, May  1,  1808,  and  was  composed  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  members,  namely,  nineteen  from 
the  New-York,  seven  from  the  New-England,  eleven 
from  the  Western,  eleven  from  the  South  Carolina, 
eighteen  from  the  Virginia,  thirty-one  from  the  Balti- 
more, and  thirty-two  from  the  Philadelphia  conference. 

For  the  first  time  since  the  organization  of  the 
Church  in  1784,  Dr.  Coke  was  absent  from  the  Ge- 
neral Conference,  and  as  Bishop  Whatcoat  had  de- 
ceased, Bishop  Asbury  was  the  sole  president  of  the 
conference.  After  the  organization  of  the  confer- 
ence, by  the  appointment  of  a  secretary  and  the  adop- 
tion of  rules  for  the  government  of  its  proceedings,  the 
conference  appointed  a  committee  of  correspondence, 
to  take  into  consideration  certain  communications 
from  the  British  conference,  and  from  Dr.  Coke,  and 
to  report  thereon. 

It  will  be  recollected  that,  in  accordance  with  the 

*  There  is  an  error  of  nine  in  the  printed  minutes  for  this 
year. 

2 


196  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808, 

earnest  request  of  the  British  conference,  the  General 
Conference  of  1804  had  agreed  to  the  return  of  Dr 
Coke  to  Europe,  and  that  he  might  have  hberty  to 
reside  there  until  this  General  Conference,  unless 
sooner  recalled  by  three  of  the  annual  conferences. 
After  his  return  to  Europe,  and  after  his  marriage,  he 
made  a  proposal,  as  before  related,  to  come  over,  and 
take  up  his  permanent  residence  in  America,  on  con- 
dition that  the  continent  should  be  divided  as  nearly 
equal  as  might  be,  between  him  and  Bishop  Asbury, 
as  the  superintending  bishops.  Though  this  proposi- 
tion was  not  agreeable  to  the  American  preachers, 
and  therefore  v^^as  not  acceded  to  by  them  in  their 
reply  to  Dr.  Coke's  circular,  yet  it  shows  most  mani- 
festly the  strong  obligation  which  the  doctor  felt  to 
fulfil  his  contract  with  the  General  Conference,  and  of 
his  intention,  provided  his  wishes  were  complied  with, 
to  make  America  his  permanent  residence  in  future. 

It  seems,  however,  that  the  answer  to  his  circular 
gave  him  some  uneasiness,  from  an  apprehension  that 
his  American  brethren  were  dissatisfied  with  his  con 
duct.  To  remove,  therefore,  all  cause  of  disquietude 
from  their  minds,  and  to  explain  more  fully  his  views 
and  wishes,  he  sent  to  this  General  Conference,  the 
following  letter  : — 

"TO    THE    GENERAL   AMERICAN   CONFERENCE 

"  City  of  Durham^  {England,)  Nov.  16,  1807. 
"  Very  dear  and  greatly  respected  Brethren  : — 

"  My  absence  from  your  solemn  meeting  calls  for  a 
minute  explanation  of  my  motives  for  absence,  and  my 
future  views.  I  did  not  expect,  during  my  different  short 
visits  to  your  connection,  to  have  any  thing  to  do  in  the 


1808,]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  197 

management  of  your  work,  except  the  honor  of  presiding 
at  your  General  Conference,  and  preaching  in  your  pulpits. 
I  never  returned  to  England  without  your  leave,  from  the 
time  I  offered  myself  to  be  wholly  yours  :  and  whatever 
my  own  private  judgment  might  have  been,  I  should,  in 
every  instance,  have  considered  your  vote  as  the  voice  of 
God,  if  you  had,  on  the  whole,  judged  it  best  to  have  refused 
that  leave.  The  last  time  I  visited  you,  I  came  over 
without  any  expectation  of  returning.  I  settled  my  little 
affairs  in  this  country,  and  brought  over  with  me  every 
thing  I  had,  except  those  parts  of  my  library  which  I 
should  not  soon  want,  but  which  I  left  in  such  a  manner 
that  on  the  shortest  notice  they  might  be  sent  over  to  me — • 
and  also  such  copies  of  my  commentary  as  I  wished  that 
my  European  brethren  would  be  so  kind  as  to  sell  for  me. 
I  did  not  take  a  decisive  farewell  of  my  brethren  in  Europe, 
as  I  was  not  sure  whether  you  would,  in  your  circum- 
stances, as  they  respected  Bishop  Asbury,  receive  me  as  an 
efficient  superintendent  or  bishop  among  you  in  any  degree 
or  manner  :  for  this  reason  only  I  consented  to  carry  over 
to  you  an  address  which  contained  a  clause  in  it  request- 
ing my  return  to  Europe.  I  should  otherwise  have  strongly 
objected  to  the, clause:  however,  I  repeatedly  gave  very 
strong  intimations,  both  to  the  British  and  Irish  confer- 
ences, of  the  improbability  of  my  return.  I  write  not  the 
above  as  if  I  did  not  highly  prize  my  situation  in  the  Eu- 
ropean connection.  As  general  superintendent  of  their 
missions  at  home  and  abroad,  as  president  of  the  Irish 
part  of  the  connection,  as  having  all  their  pulpits  in  the 
United  Kingdom  open  to  me  when  and  as  often  as  I  please, 
and  in  many  other  respects  possessing  influence  for  great 
usefulness,  I  feel  myself  under  unspeakable  obligations  to 
my  European  brethren.  But  I  have  made  the  above  ob- 
servations to  convince  you,  that  I  held  and  kept  my  obli- 
gations and  engagements  to  you,  to  strengthen  your  episco- 

2 


JL90  Ji    HISTORY    OF    TH£  [1808 

pacy  whenever  you  pleased,  most  sacred.  It  is  true,  I 
wrote  to  you  a  circular  letter,  which,  I  now  acknowledge, 
was  out  of  order  ;  and  therefore  I  beg  pardon  for  writing 
it:  but  I  did  not  intend  to  be  irregular.  I  hardly  knew 
what  to  write  in  order  to  bring  matters  to  an  explanation. 
For  I  was  assured  that  you  yourselves,  after  due  explana- 
tion, would  not  wish  to  draw  me  out  of  a  very  extensive 
and  successful  sphere  of  usefulness,  merely  to  preach  ;  and, 
instead  of  strengthening  the  episcopacy,  have  less  to  do 
in  the  management  of  the  work  than  the  preacher  who 
superintends  the  smallest  circuit  in  America. 

"  And  now,  you  will  ask,  '  What  are  we  to  expect  from 
you.'  I  will  answer  with  the  most  perfect  candor.  If  it 
be  your  judgment  and  vote  that  my  residence  with  you  will 
prohahly  assist  to  preserve  your  union ;  and  you  agree  that 
I  shall  have  a  full  right  to  give  my  judgment  in  every  thing, 
in  the  general  and  annual  conferences,  on  the  making  of 
laws,  the  stationing  of  the  preachers,  sending  out  mission- 
aries, and  every  thing  else,  which,  as  a  bishop  or  superin- 
tendent belongs  to  my  office,  I  will,  on  receiving  your  an- 
swer, settle  our  affairs  with  the  utmost  expedition,  and 
come  over  to  you  for  life.  You  may  observe,  I  do  not  de- 
sire any  decisive  power.  I  want  no  new  condition,  I  only 
want  to  be  perfectly  ascertained,  that  if  I  reside  with  you, 
I  shall  be  authorized  by  you  to  fulfil  my  office  in  the  way 
above  mentioned  ;  without  which  our  reciprocal  engage- 
ments would  be  a  perfect  nullity,  and  I  should  be  entirely 
the  same  among  you,  except  in  the  article  of  preaching. 
By  this  proposal  I  break  no  engagement :  I  want  nothing 
but  a  full  explanation,  and  a  part  of  that  liberty  which  I 
have  in  the  European  connection.  In  Europe,  I  give  ray 
judgment  in  the  two  conferences,  and  in  the  representa- 
tive meetings  for  preparing  the  stations  of  preachers  for 
the  conference,  as  far  as  I  judge  it  my  duty,  on  every 
point,  and  have  also  a  vote  when  we  do  vote  on  any  sub- 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  199 

ject.  In  missionary  matters  I  am  here  allowed  a  negative 
and  my  committee  a  negative ;  this  last  I  do  not  desire  in 
America  ;  but  I  desire  the  power  of  doing  extensive  good. 
If  this  cannot  at  present  be  granted  hy  the  authority  of  the 
General  Conference,  you  may  insert  me  in  your  minutes  as 
formerly  :  or  you  may  first  insert  the  resident  bishop  or 
bishops,  and  add  a  N.  B.,  Dr.  Coke  (or  Bishop  Coke,  as  you 
please)  resides  in  Europe,  till  he  be  called  to  the  States 
by  the  General  Conference,  or  by  the  annual  conferences  ; 
or  if  this  be  not  agreeable,  you  must  expel  me,  (for  drop- 
ping me  out  of  youl  public  minutes  will  be  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  an  expulsion,)  and  leave  what  I  have  done 
for  your  connection  to  God  alone  :  and  though  you  forget 
me,  God  will  not  forget  me. 

"  I  do  assure  you,  very  dear  and  respected  brethren, 
that  I  love  and  esteem  you  highly,  and  am,  with  most  un- 
feigned sincerity,  your  affectionate  and  faithful  servant, 

"T.  Coke. 

"  P.  S. — My  precious  wife  desires  that  she  may  not  be 
considered  in  the  least  degree  in  this  business.  She  is  no 
hinderance  to  me  in  any  thing,  but  a  blessing  in  all  things. 
We  are  always,  as  it  were,  traveling,  and  I  annually  visit 
and  preach  at  more  places  than  I  did  for  many  years  be- 
fore my  marriage." 

There  was  further  cause  of  dissatisfaction  with 
Dr.  Coke.  It  seems  that,  in  the  spring  of  1791,  Dr. 
Coke,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  for  England,  ad- 
dressed a  confidential  letter  to  Bishop  White,  bishop 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  which  he  proposed  a  union  between  that  and  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  on  certain  conditions, 
with  which  the  officers  of  that  Church  did  not  see  fit 
to  comply.  As  several  versions  have  been  given  of 
this  affair,  to  prevent  misunderstandings  hereafter,  I 
2 


200  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

think  it  proper  to  give  the  letter  of  Dr.  Coke  entire. 
It  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Right  Rev.  Sir  : — Permit  me  to  intrude  a  little  on 
your  time  upon  a  subject  of  great  importance. 

*'  You,  I  believe,  are  conscious  that  I  was  brought  up  in 
the  Church  of  England,  and  have  been  ordained  a  presby- 
ter of  that  Church.  For  many  years  I  was  prejudiced, 
even  I  think  to  bigotry,  in  favor  of  it ;  but  through  a  variety 
of  causes  or  incidents,  to  mention  which  would  be  tedious 
and  useless,  my  mind  was  exceedingly  biased  on  the  other 
side  of  the  question.  In  consequence  of  this  I  am  not  sure  but 
I  went  further  in  the  separation  of  our  Church  in  America 
than  Mr.  Wesley,  from  whom  I  had  received  my  commis- 
sion, did  intend.  He  did  indeed  solemnly  invest  me,  as  far  as 
he  had  a  right  so  to  do,  with  episcopal  authority,  but  did  not 
intend,  I  think,  that  an  entire  separation  should  take  place. 
He,  being  pressed  by  our  friends  on  this  side  of  the  water 
for  ministers  to  administer  the  sacraments  to  them,  (there 
being  very  few  of  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England  then 
in  the  States,)  went  further,  I  am  sure,  than  he  would»have 
gone,  if  he  had  foreseen  some  events  which  followed. 
And  this  I  am  certain  of — that  he  is  now  sorry  for  the 
separation. 

"  But  what  can  be  done  for  a  re-union,  which  I  much  wish 
for  ;  and  to  accomplish  which,  Mr.  Wesley,  I  have  no  doubt, 
would  use  his  influence  to  the  utmost  ?  The  affection  of  a 
very  considerable  number  of  the  preachers  and  most  of  the 
people  is  very  strong  toward  him,  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
cessive ill  usage  he  received  from  a  few.  My  interest  also 
is  not  small ;  both  his  and  mine  would  readily,  and  to  the 
utmost,  be  used  to  accomplish  that  (to  us)  very  desirable 
object ;  if  a  readiness  were  shown  by  the  bishops  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  to  re-unite. 

"  It  is  even  to  your  Church  an  object  of  great  importance. 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  201 

We  have  now  above  sixty  thousand  adults  in  our  society 
in  these  States,  and  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  traveling 
ministers  and  preachers  ;  besides  a  great  number  of  local 
preachers,  very  far  exceeding  the  number  of  travelino- 
preachers  ;  and  some  of  those  local  preachers  are  men  of 
very  considerable  abilities.  But  if  we  number  the  Me- 
thodists as  most  people  number  the  members  of  their 
Church,  viz.,  by  the  families  which  constantly  attend  the 
divine  ordinances  in  their  places  of  worship,  they  will 
make  a  larger  body  than  you  probably  conceive.  The  so- 
ciety, I  believe,  may  be  safely  multiplied  by  five  on  an 
average  to  give  us  our  stated  congregations  ;  which  will 
then  amount  to  three  hundred  thousand.  And  if  the  calcu- 
lation which,  I  think,  some  eminent  writers  have  made,  be 
just,  three-fifths  of  mankind  are  un-adult,  (if  I  may  use  the 
expression,)  at  any  given  period,  it  will  follow  that  all  the 
families,  the  adults  of  which  form  our  congregations  in 
these  States,  amount  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand. 
About  one-fifth  of  these  are  blacks. 

"  The  work  now  extends  in  length  from  Boston  to  the 
south  of  Georgia  ;  and  in  breadth  from  the  Atlantic  to  Lake 
Champlain,  Vermont,  Albany,  Redstone,  Holstein,  Ken- 
tucky, Cumberland,  &c. 

"  But  there  are  many  hinderances  in  the  way.  Can  they 
be  removed? 

"  1.  Our  ordained  ministers  will  not,  ought  not  to  give 
up  their  right  of  administering  the  sacraments.  I  do  not 
think  that  the  generality  of  them,  perhaps  none  of  them, 
would  refuse  to  submit  to  a  re-ordination,  if  other  hinder- 
ances were  removed  out  of  the  way.  I  must  here  observe, 
that  between  sixty  and  seventy  only  out  of  the  two  hundred 
and  fifty  have  been  ordained  presbyters,  and  about  sixty 
deacons  (only.)  The  presbyters  are  the  choicest  of  the 
whole. 

"  2.  The  other  preachers  would  hardly  submit  to  a  re- 
9"  2 


202  A    IlISTORV    OF    THE  [1808 

union,  if  the  possibility  of  their  rising  up  to  ordination  de- 
pended on  the  present  bishops  in  America.  Because, 
though  they  arc  all,  I  think  I  may  say,  zealoiis,  pious,  and 
very  useful  men,  yet  they  are  not  acquainted  with  the 
learned  languages.  Besides,  they  would  argue, — If  tho 
present  bishops  would  waive  the  article  of  the  learned  lun* 
guages,  yet  their  successors  might  not. 

"  My  desire  of  a  re-union  is  so  sincere  and  earnest,  that 
these  difficulties  almost  make  me  tremble  ;  and  yet  some- 
thing must  be  done  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Wesley,  other- 
wise I  shall  despair  of  success  :  for  though  my  influence 
among  the  Methodists  in  these  states  as  well  as  in  Europe 
is,  I  doubt  not,  increasing,  yet  Mr.  Asbury,  whose  influence 
is  very  capital,  will  not  easily  comply  ;  nay,  I  know  he  will 
be  exceedingly  averse  to  it. 

"  In  Europe,  where  some  steps  had  been  taken,  tending 
to  a  separation,  all  is  at  an  end.  Mr.  Wesley  is  a  deter- 
mined enemy  of  it,  and  I  have  lately  borne  an  open  and 
successful  testimony  against  it. 

"  Shall  I  be  favored  with  a  private  interview  with  you  in 
Philadelphia  ?  I  shall  be  there,  God  willing,  on  Tuesday 
the  17th  of  ^lay.  If  this  be  agreeable,  I  will  beg  of  you 
just  to  signify  it  in  a  note,  directed  to  me  at  Mr.  Jacob 
Baker's,  merchant.  Market-street,  Philadelphia ;  or,  if  you 
please,  by  a  few  lines  sent  me  by  the  return  of  the  post, 
at  Philip  Rogers's,  Esq.,  in  Baltimore,  from  yourself  or  Dr. 
Magaw,  and  I  will  wait  upon  you  with  my  friend  Dr. 
Magaw.     We  can  then  enlarge  on  these  subjects. 

"  I  am  conscious  of  it,  that  secrecy  is  of  great  import- 
ance in  the  present  slate  of  the  business,  till  the  minds  of 
you,  your  brother  bishops,  and  Mr.  Wesley,  be  circumstan- 
tially known.  I  must  therefore  beg  that  these  tilings  be 
confined  to  yourself  and  Dr.  Magaw,  till  I  have  the  honor 
of  seeing  you. 

"  Thus,  you  see,  I  have  made  a  bold  venture  on  your 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  203 

honor  and  candor,  and  have  opened  my  whole  heart  to 
you  on  the  subject,  as  far  as  the  extent  of  a  small  letter 
will  allow  me.  If  you  put  equal  confidence  in  me,  you  will 
find  me  candid  and  faithful. 

"  I  have,  notwithstanding,  been  guilty  of  inadvertencies. 
Very  lately,  I  found  myself  obliged  (for  the  pacifying  of  my 
conscience)  to  write  a  penitential  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Jarratt,  which  gave  him  great  satisfaction  :  and  for  the 
same  reason  I  must  write  another  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Petti- 
grew.  When  I  was  last  in  America,  I  prepared  and  cor- 
rected a  great  variety  of  things  for  our  magazines,  indeed, 
almost  every  thing  that  was  printed,  except  some  loose  hints 
which  I  had  taken  of  one  of  my  journeys,  and  which  I  left 
in  my  hurry  with  Mr.  Asbury,  without  any  correction,  en- 
treating that  no  part  of  them  might  be  printed  which 
would  be  improper  or  offensive.  But  through  great  inad- 
vertency (I  suppose)  he  suffered  some  reflections  on  the 
characters  of  the  two  above-mentioned  gentlemen  to  be  in- 
serted in  the  magazine,  for  which  I  am  very  sorry :  and 
probably  shall  not  rest  till  I  have  made  my  acknowledg 
ment  more  public ;  though  Mr.  Jarratt  does  not  desire  it. 

"  I  am  not  sure  whether  I  have  not  also  offended  you,  sir, 
by  accepting  of  one  of  the  offers  made  me  by  you  and 
Dr.  Magaw,  of  the  use  of  your  churches,  about  six  years 
ago,  on  my  first  visit  to  Philadelphia,  without  informing  you 
of  our  plan  of  separation  from  the  Church  of  England.  If 
I  did  offend,  (as  I  doubt  I  did,  especially  from  what  you 
said  on  the  subject  to  Mr.  Richard  Dellam,  of  Abington,) 
I  sincerely  beg  yours  and  Dr.  Magaw's  pardon.  I  will 
endeavor  to  amend.     But,  alas  !  I  am  a  frail,  weak  creature. 

"  I  will  intrude  no  longer  at  present.  One  thing  only  I 
will  claim  from  your  candor — that  if  you  have  no  thoughts 
of  improving  this  proposal,  you  will  burn  this  letter,  and 
take  no  more  notice  of  it  (for  it  would  be  a  pity  to  have 
us  entirely  alienated  from  each  other,  if  we  cannot  unite  in 

2 


204  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

the  manner  my  ardent  wishes  desire.)  But  if  you  will  further 
negotiate  the  business,  I  will  expluin  my  mind  still  more 
fully  to  you  on  the  probabilities  of  success. 

"  In  tlie  meantime,  permit  me,  with  great  respect,  to 
subscribe  myself,  right  reverend  sir,  your  very  humble  ser- 
vant in  Christ,  Thomas  Coke. 

''Richmond,  April  2A,  1791. 

"  The  Right  Rev.  Father  in  God,  Bishop  White." 

The   following  is  Bishop  White's  answer  : — 

"  Rev.  Sir  : — My  friend,  Dr.  Magaw,  has  this  day  put 
into  my  hands  your  letter  of  the  24th  of  April,  which,  I 
trust,  I  received  vvith  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  of  the  answer  I  am  to  give  to  God  for  the  im- 
provement of  every  opportunity  of  building  up  his  Church. 
Accordingly,  I  cannot  but  make  choice  of  the  earliest  of 
the  two  ways  you  point  out,  to  inform  you,  that  I  shall  be 
very  happy  in  the  opportunity  of  conversing  with  you  at 
the  time  proposed. 

"  You  mention  two  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  proposed 
union.  And  there  are  further  difficulties  which  suggest 
themselves  to  my  mind.  But  I  can  say  of  the  one  and  of 
the  other,  that  I  do  not  think  them  insuperable,  provided 
there  be  a  conciliatory  disposition  on  both  sides.  So  far 
as  I  am  concerned,  I  think  that  such  a  disposition  exists. 

"  It  has  not  been  my  temper,  sir,  to  despond  in  regard  to 
the  extension  of  Christianity  in  this  new  world  :  and  in  ad- 
dition to  the  promises  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  I 
have  always  imagined  that  I  perceived  the  train  of  second 
causes  so  laid  by  the  good  providence  of  God,  as  to  be 
promoting  what  we  believe  to  be  his  will  in  this  respect. 
On  the  other  hand,  I  feel  the  weight  of  most  powerful  dis- 
couragements, in  the  increasing  number  of  the  avowed 
patrons  of  infidelit)^,  and  of  others,  who  pretend  to  confess 
the  divine  authority  of  our  holy  religion,  while  they  en- 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  205 

deavor  to  strip  it  oi'  its  characteristic  doctrines.  In  this 
situation,  it  is  rather  to  be  expected,  that  distinct  Churches, 
agreeing  in  fundamentals,  should  make  mutual  sacrifices 
for  a  union,  than  that  any  Church  should  divide  into  two 
bodies,  without  a  difference  being  even  alleged  to  exist,  in 
any  leading  point.  For  the  preventing  of  this,  the  measures 
which  you  may  propose  cannot  fail  of  success,  unless  there 
be  on  one  side,  or  on  both,  a  most  lamentable  deficiency 
of  Christian  temper. 

"  I  remember  the  conversation  you  allude  to  with  Mr. 
Dellam  :  I  hope  I  did  not  express  myself  uncharitably,  or 
even  indelicately.  As  to  personal  offence  toward  me,  it  is 
out  of  the  question  :  for  I  had  not  at  that  time  any  connec- 
tion with  St.  Paul's  Church.  But  this,  as  well  as  the  other 
parts  of  your  letter,  may  be  discoursed  of  at  the  proposed 
interview.  Therefore,  with  assurance  of  the  desired  se- 
crecy, and  with  requesting  you  to  accept  a  like  promise  of 
candor  to  that  which  I  credit  from  you,  I  conclude  myself 
at  present 

"  Your  brother  in  Christ, 

"  And  very  humble  servant, 

"  W.  W."* 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  above  correspondence 
was  considered  by  the  parties  concerned  as  altogether 
confidential,  and  was  so  kept,  according  to  Bishop 
White's  account  of  the  transaction,  until  the  summer 
of  1804,  when  ha  communicated  the  fact,  in  answer 
to  their  inquiries,  to  the  Rev.  Simon  Wilmer,  of  the 
Protestant,  and  the  Rev.  John  M'Klaskey,  of  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church.  "  The  matter  being  vari- 
ously reported,"  says  Bishop  White,  "  a  copy  of  the 
letter  was,  after  some  lapse  of  time,  delivered  to  the 

*  Memoirs  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  page  343. 


206  A   HISTORY    OF   THE  [1808. 

Rev,  Dr.   Kemp,  of  Maryland,  and  at  last  published 
in  a  controversy  raised  in  the  diocese." 

The  letter  being  thus  made  public,  it  is  not  strange 
that  many  of  the  friends  of  Dr.  Coke,  and  of  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church,  to  whom  these  things 
were  unknown  until  now,  should  have  been  dissatis- 
fied with  Dr.  Coke,  and  demand  from  him  an  explana- 
tion. This  called  from  him  the  following  letter  to 
this  General  Conference"^  : — 

"  Near  Leeds,  {Yorkshire,)  Jan.  29,  1808. 

"  TO  THE  GENERAL  AMERICAN  CONFERENCE. 

"  My  Very  Dear  Brethren  : — 1  wrote  to  you  a  letter 
about  two  months  ago,  directed  to  the  care  of  my  dear 
brethren,  the  Messrs  Cooper  and  Wilson,  in  which  I 
briefly  opened  my  mind  to  you  concerning  my  relation  to- 
ward you,  observing,  to  this  purport,  that  if  you  judged  that 
my  being  with  you  would  help  to  preserve  your  union,  and 
if  I  was  allowed  to  give  my  opinion  or  judgment  on  every 
station  of  the  preachers,  as  far  as  I  chose,  and  also  upon 
every  thing  else  that  could  come  under  the  inspection  of 
the  bishops  or  superintendents,  you  might  call  me,  and  we 
would  settle  our  affairs  in  Europe  as  soon  as  possible,  and 
sail  for  America,  and  be  with  you  for  life.  Without  your 
compliance  with  the  latter  point,  viz.,  in  respect  to  a  full 
right  of  giving  my  judgment,  I  should  be  so  far  from  being 
useful  in  preserving  union,  that  I  should  merely  fill  the 
place  of  a  preacher. 

"  But  there  is  one  point  more  whicbr  I  must  also  notice. 
I  find  that  a  letter  which  I  wrote  to  Bishop  White  in 
1791  has  been  animadverted  upon,  though,  if  I  mistake 
not,  the  letter  itself  has  not  been  published. 

*  This  and  the  former  letter  to  the  General  Conference,  are 
among  the  documents  of  said  conference,  preserved  in  the  hand- 
^vriting  of  Dr.  Coke  himself,  italicized  as  herein  printed. 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  207 

i  "  There  are  very  few  of  you  who  can  possibly  recollect 
any  thing  of  what  I  am  next  going  to  add.  Many  of  you 
were  then  only  little  children.  We  had  at  that  time  no 
regular  General  Conferences.  One  only  had  been  held 
in  the  year  1784.  I  had,  indeed,  with  great  labor  and 
fatigue,  a  few  months  before  I  wrote  this  letter  to  Bishop 
White,  prevailed  on  James  O'Kelly  and  the  thirty-six 
traveling  preachers  who  had  withdrawn  with  him  from  all 
connection  with  Bishop  Asbury,  to  submit  to  the  decision 
of  a  General  Conference.  This  conference  was  to  be  held 
in  about  a  year  and  a  half  after  my  departure  from  the 
States.  And  at  this  conference,  held,  I  think,  the  latter 
end  of  1792,  I  proposed  and  obtained  that  great  blessing 
to  the  American  connection,  a  permanency  for  General 
Conferences,  which  were  to  be  held  at  stated  times.  Pre- 
viously to  the  holding  of  this  conference,  (except  the  gene- 
ral one  held  in  1784,)  there  were  only  small  district  meet- 
ings, excepting  the  council  which  was  held  at  Cokesbury 
College  either  in  1791  or  1792.  Except  the  union  which 
most  justly  subsisted  between  Bishop  Asbury  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  preachers  and  people  on  the  other,  the  so- 
ciety, as  such,  taken  as  an  aggregate,  was  almost  like  a 
rope  of  sand.  I  longed  to  see  matters  on  a  footing  likely 
to  be  permanent.  Bishop  iVsbury  did  the  same  :  and  it 
was  that  view  of  things,  I  doubt  not,  which  led  Bishop 
Asbury,  the  year  before,  to  call  and  to  endeavor  to  establish 
a  regular  council,  who  were  to  meet  him  annually  at 
Cokesbury.  In  this  point  I  differed  in  sentiment  from  my 
venerable  brother.  But  I  saw  the  danger  of  our  situation, 
though  I  well  knew  that  God  was  sufficient  for  all  things. 
I  did  verily  believe  then,  that,  under  God,  the  connection 
would  be  more  likely  to  be  saved  from  convulsions  by  a 
union  with  the  old  Episcopal  Church,  than  any  other  way 
— not  by  a  dereliction  of  ordination,  sacraments,  and  the 
Methodist  discipline,  but  by  a  junction  on  proper  terms 

2 


208  A    HISTORY    01     THE  [1808 

Bishop  White,  in  two  interviews  I  had  with  him  in  Phila- 
delphia, gave  me  reason  to  believe  that  this  junction 
might  be  accomplished  with  ease.  Dr.  Magaw  was  per- 
fectly sure  of  it.  Indeed,  (if  Mr.  Ogden,  of  New-Jersey, 
did  not  mistake  in  the  information  he  gave  me,)  a  canon 
passed  the  house  of  bishops  of  the  old  Episcopal  Church 
in  favor  of  it.  Bishop  Madison,  according  to  the  same  in- 
formation, took  the  canon  to  the  lower  house.  '  But  it 
was  there  thrown  out,'  said  Mr.  Ogden,  to  whom  I  ex- 
plained the  whole  business,  '  because  they  did  not  under- 
stand the  full  meaning  of  it.'  Mr.  Ogden  added,  that  he 
spoke  against  it,  because  he  did  not  understand  it ;  but 
that  it  would  have  met  with  his  warm  support,  had  he  un- 
derstood the  full  intention  of  it. 

I  had  provided  in  the  fullest  manner,  in  my  indispensa- 
bly necessary  conditions,  for  the  security,  and,  I  may  say, 
for  the  independence  of  our  discipline  and  places  of  wor- 
ship. But  I  thought  (perhaps  erroneously,  and  I  believe 
so  noic)  that  our  field  of  action  would  have  been  exceed- 
ingly enlarged  by  that  junction,  and  that  myriads  would 
have  attended  our  ministry  in  consequence  of  it,  who 
were  at  that  time  much  prejudiced  against  us.  All  these 
things  unitedly  considered,  led  me  to  write  the  letter,  and 
meet  Bishop  White  and  Dr.  Magaw  on  the  subject  in 
Philadelphia. 

"  But  it  may  be  asked,  why  did  I  not  consult  Bishop 
Asbury,  before  I  took  these  steps  ?  I  answer,  It  was  im- 
possible. I  was  at  and  near  Philadelphia,  and  he  was 
somewhere  in  the  south.  We  had  finished  our  district 
meetings,  and  he  was  to  be  in  the  state  of  Maryland  about 
the  time  of  my  sailing  for  England.  I  wanted  that  every 
thing  should  be  prepared  against  my  return,  God  willing, 
in  about  a  year  and  ^  half,  for  further  consideration — that 
Bishop  White,  &c.,  should  have  time  to  consult  their  con 
vention — and  that  I  might  also  lay  the  matter  before 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  209 

Bishop  Asbury,  and  correspond  with  him  upon  the  subject, 
and  after  that,  if  proper,  bring  the  business  before  the  General 
Conference,  which  was  to  be  held  in  order  to  take  into 
consideration  James  O'Kelly's  division.  Before  I  sailed 
for  England,  I  met  Bishop  Asbury  at  Newcastle  in  the 
state  of  Delaware,  (from  which  place  I  went  on  board,) 
and  laid  the  matter  before  him,  who,  with  that  caution 
which  peculiarly  characterizes  him,  gave  me  no  decisive 
opinion  on  the  subject. 

"  The  next  objection  (and,  I  think,  the  only  important 
one  remaining)  is  the  following :  '  If  you  did  not  think 
that  the  episcopal  ordination  of  Mr.  Asbury  was  valid, 
why  did  you  ordain  him  ?  Was  there  not  duplicity  in  this 
business  V    I  answer, 

"  1.  I  never,  since  I  could  reason  on  those  things, 
considered  the  doctrine  of  the  uninterrupted  apostolic 
succession  of  bishops  as  at  all  valid  or  true. 

"  2.  I  am  of  our  late  venerable  father  Mr.  Wesley's 
opinion,  that  the  order  of  bishops  and  presbyters  is  one 
and  the  same. 

"  3.  I  believe  that  the  episcopal  form  of  church  gov- 
ernment is  the  best  in  the  world,  when  the  episcopal 
power  is  under  due  regulations  and  responsibility. 

"  4.  I  believe  that  it  is  well  to  follow  the  example  of  the 
primitive  church  as  exemplified  in  the  word  of  God,  by 
setting  apart  persons  for  great  ministerial  purposes  by  the 
imposition  of  hands,  but  especially  those  who  are  appoint- 
ed for  offices  of  the  first  rank  in  the  church. 

"  From  all  I  have  advanced,  you  may  easily  perceive,  my 
dear  brethren,  that  I  do  not  consider  the  imposition  of 
hands,  on  the  one  hand,  as  essentially  necessary  for  any 
office  in  the  church  ;  nor  do  I,  on  the  other  hand,  think 
that  the  repetition  of  the  imposition  of  hands  for  the  same 
office,  when  important  circumstances  require  it,  is  at  all 
improper. 

3 


210  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  11808. 

"  If  it  be  granted  that  my  plan  of  union  with  the  old 
Episcopal  Church  was  desirable,  {which  now,  I  think,  was 
not  so,  though  I  most  sincerely  believed  it  to  he  so  at  that 
time,)  then  if  the  plan  could  not  have  been  accomplished 
without  a  repetition  of  the  imposition  of  hands  for  the 
same  office,  I  did  believe,  and  do  now  believe,  and  have 
no  doubt  that  the  repetition  of  the  imposition  of  hands  would 
have  been  perfectly  justifiable  for  the  enlargement  of  the 
field  of  action,  (fee,  and  would  not,  by  any  means,  have  inva- 
lidated the  former  consecration  or  imposition  of  hands. 
Therefore,  I  have  no  doubt  but  my  consecration  of  Bishop 
Asbury  was  perfectly  valid ;  and  would  have  been  so  even 
if  he  had  been  re-consecrated.  I  never  did  apply  to  the 
general  convention  or  any  other  convention  for  reconsecra- 
tion.  I  never  intended  that  either  Bishop  Asbury  or  myself 
should  give  up  our  episcopal  office,  if  the  junction  were  to 
take  place  ;  but  I  should  have  had  no  scruple  then,  nor 
should  I  now,  if  the  junction  were  desirable,  to  have  submit- 
ed  to,  or  to  submit  to  a  reimposition  of  hands  in  order  to 
accomplish  a  great  object :  but  I  do  say  again,  I  do  not 
now  believe  such  a  junction  desirable. 

"  I  have  thus  simply  and  candidly,  though  in  few  words^ 
told  you  my  whole  mind  on  this  subject.  I  do  not  consider  my 
solemn  engagements  to  you  invalidated  by  any  thing  I 
have  done,  or  you  have  done.  But  I  charge  you  by  the 
glory  of  God,  and  by  every  tie  of  love,  gratitude,  and  can- 
dor, that  you  take  no  step  which  may  injure  my  character. 
And  now  I  conclude  with  assuring  you  that  I  greatly  love 
and  esteem  you ;  that  it  is  a  delight  to  me  to  pray  for  your 
prosperity,  and  that  I  am  your  very  affectionate  brother 
and  faithful  friend,  T.  Coke." 

These  letters,  having  been  read  in  the  conference, 
were  referred  to  the  committee  of  correspondence, 
who  reported  the  following  answer  to  Dr.  Coke  : — 

2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  211 

"  Baltimore,  May  2Dth,  1808. 

"Very  Dear  and  Much-respected  Brother: — Your 
letters  of  Nov.  16th,  1807,  and  Jan.  29tli,  1808,  together 
with  the  address  of  the  British  Conference  to  our  Gene- 
ral Conference,  were  severally  read  to  us  in  our  open 
conference  ;  and  the  different  subjects  therein  contained 
were  seriously  and  solemnly  considered,  in  all  their  va- 
rious bearings  and  connections. 

"  We  have  answered  the  address  of  the  British  Confer- 
ence in  a  separate  letter  from  this,  which  you,  as  one  of 
that  body,  will  see.  We  have  complied  with  their  re- 
quest, in  agreeing  that  you  may  continue  with  them,  till 
you  are  called  to  us  by  the  General  Conference,  or  by  all 
the  annual  conferences  respectively. 

"  Your  two  letters  were  respectfully  received  and  had  a 
salutary  effect  upon  our  minds.  The  reasons  which  you 
have  assigned  for  some  former  transactions,  and  the  inge- 
nuous candor  which  you  have  manifested,,  in  frankly 
acknowledging  and  declaring  the  motives  and  induce- 
ments that  led  you  to  those  measures  ;  together  with  your 
affectionate  acknowledgment  that  in  certain  cases  you 
were  mistaken  as  to  your  views  of  some  of  the  points  in 
question  ;  as  likewise  your  manifest  friendship  and  good 
will  to  this  connection  and  your  American  brethren,  and 
your  evident  solicitude  to  retain  a  place  and  standing 
among  us ;  taking  these  circumstances  collectively,  they 
had  a  great  influence  upon  some  of  our  minds,  in  removing 
certain  suspicious  fears,  which  had  been  imbibed,  rather 
unfavorable  to  your  standing  among  us. 

"  You  may  be  assured  that  we  feel  an  affectionate  re- 
gard for  you ;  that  we  gratefully  remember  your  repeated 
labors  of  love  toward  us  ;  and  that  we  sensibly  feel  our 
obligations  for  the  services  you  have  rendered  us.  W^e 
hope  that  no  circumstance  will  ever  alienate  our  Christian 
affection  from  you,  or  yours  from  us.     We  wish  to  main- 

2 


212  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

tain  and  to  cultivate  a  good  understanding  and  brotherly 
unity  with  you,  and  with  all  our  European  brethren.  In 
full  conference,  of  near  one  hundred  and  thirty  members, 
we  entered  into  a  very  long  conversation,  and  very  serious 
and  solemn  debate,  upon  sundry  resolutions  which  were  laid 
before  us,  relative  to  your  case.  Probably  on  no  former 
occasion,  in  any  conference  in  America,  was  so  much 
said  in  defence  of  your  character  and  to  your  honor  as  a 
ministerial  servant  of  God  and  of  his  church.  Your  worth, 
your  labors,  your  disinterested  services,  fatigues,  dangers, 
and  difficulties,  to  serve  your  American  brethren,  were  set 
forth  pathetically,  and  urged  with  the  force  of  reason  and 
truth,  in  an  argumentative  manner  ;  and  our  candid  and 
impartial  judgments  were  constrained  to  yield  to  the  con- 
clusion, that  we  were  bound  by  the  ties  of  moral  and  reli- 
gious obligations  to  treat  you  most  respectfully,  and  to 
retain  a  grateful  remembrance  of  all  your  labors  of  love 
toward  us.  During  the  debate  your  name  was  mentioned, 
and  your  character  spoken  of  with  much  respect  and  affec- 
tion. Our  deliberations  and  arguments  on  this  head  ter- 
minated in  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions,  viz  : — 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  the  General  Conference  do  agree 
and  consent  that  Dr.  Coke  may  continue  in  Europe  till  he 
be  called  to  the  United  States  by  the  General  Conference 
or  by  all  the  American  conferences  respectively. 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  we  do  retain  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  the  services  and  labors  of  Dr.  Coke  among  us ; 
and  that  the  thanks  of  this  conference  are  hereby  acknow- 
ledged to  him,  and  to  God,  for  all  his  labors  of  love  to- 
ward us,  from  the  time  he  first  left  his  native  country  to 
serve  us. 

"  3.   Resolved,  That  Dr.  Coke's  name  shall  be  retained 

in  our  minutes,  after  the  names  of  the  bishops,  in  a  'N.  B. 

Dr.  Coke,  at  the  request  of  the  British  Conference,  and  by 

consent  of  our  General  Conference,  resides  in  Europe  ; 

2 


1808.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  213 

he  is  not  to  exercise  the  office  of  superintendent  among  us, 
in  the  United  States,  until  he  be  recalled  by  the  General 
Conference  or  by  all  the  annual  conferences  respectively.' 

"Your  name  is  accordingly  printed  in  the  minutes  which 
were  put  to  press  after  the  adoption  of  the  above  resolu- 
tions. 

"  We  have  elected  and  set  apart  our  beloved  brother 
Wm.  M'Kendree  to  the  office  of  a  bishop  or  superintend- 
ent, and  he  has  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office. 
Our  venerable  Asbury  is  yet  spared  among  us,  and,  al- 
though he  bears  the  weight  of  more  than  threescore 
years,  he  is  able  to  travel  and  visit  all  the  annual  confer- 
ences. May  his  life  be  long  preserved  for  God's  glory, 
and  the  service  of  his  church ! 

"  We  have,  upon  the  whole,  had  great  peace,  hannony, 
and  unity,  during  our  sitting  in  General  Conference  :  we 
expect  to  close  in  a  few  days  ;  and  we  trust  in  God  that 
all  things  will  work  together  for  the  divine  glory  and  the 
promotion  of  the  blessed  work  of  religion. 

"  Our  next  General  Conference  is  to  be  May  1st,  1812, 
in  New-York,  and  is  to  be  composed  of  a  select  number, 
of  one  for  every  five  members  belonging  to  the  annual 
conferences  respectively. 

"  We  judge  it  proper  to  inform  you,  that  our  brother 
Ezekiel  Cooper  has  voluntarily  resigned  his  office  as 
editor  and  general  book  steward.  It  was  the  wish  and 
desire  of  the  General  Conference,  that  he  should  continue 
to  serve  the  connection  in  that  important  department ;  but 
he  has  given  us  a  ffiial  answer,  that  he  declines  the  ap- 
pointment, and  wishes  another  to  be  appointed  to  take  his 
place.  The  conference  have  accordingly  accepted  his 
resignation,  and  voted  their  thanks  to  him  for  the  great 
services  he  has  rendered  them,  in  that  department,  for 
nine  years  past ;  and  they  have  also  voted  their  full  ap- 
probation of  his  conduct  in   the  management  of  the  book 

2 


214  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

business,  greatly  to  the  advancement  of  that  concern,  and 
to  the  benefit  of  the  connection. 

"  We  have  now  chosen  our  brethren  John  Wilson  and 
Daniel  Hitt,  the  editors  and  general  book  stewards,  who 
are  to  carry  on  the  business  in  New- York  as  usual.  You 
will  therefore  consider  and  understand,  that  our  brother 
Ezekiel  Cooper,  of  his  own  voluntary  choice,  has  resign- 
ed, and  is  released  from  any  responsibility  in  any  accounts 
you  may  have  with  the  Book  Concern  ;  and  that  all  your 
accounts  and  business  with  that  department  or  the  agente 
thereof  are  to  be  transferred  to  and  done  with  the  said 
John  Wilson  and  Daniel  Hitt  in  future. 

"  We  have  had  a  glorious  work  in  various  parts ;  we 
had  an  addition  last  year  of  7,405  ;  our  connection  now 
amounts  to  more  than  150,000.  Surely  the  Lord  is  with  us 

"  We  hope,  dear  brother,  that  you  will  bear  us  in  mind 
before  the  throne  of  grace.  We  shall  certainly  pray  for 
our  brother  Dr-.  Coke,  his  beloved  wife,  and  all  our  Eu- 
ropean brethren.  May  the  Lord  long  preserve  your  life, 
and  bless  you  with  every  necessary  favor  of  Providence 
and  grace  to  complete  your  felicity  in  time  and  through 
eternity  ! 

"  We  are,  very  dear  and  much-respected  brother,  yours 
affectionately  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel  and  unity  of  the 
Spirit  of  grace. 

"  Signed  in  behalf  and  hy  order  of  the  General  Con* 
ferencey 

The  following  resolutions  also  passed  the  confer- 
ence in  relation  to  his  case  : — 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  case  of  Dr. 
Coke,  taking  into  consideration  the  circumstances  of  the 
case,  as  it  respects  the  request  of  the  British  Conference, 
the  relative  situation  of  the  doctor,  and  the  most  prudent 
measures  for  us  to  adopt,  in  order  to  promote  and  perpetu 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  215 

ate  a  good  understanding  and  Christian  unity  between  us 
and  our  European  brethren,  are  of  opinion  we  should 
comply  with  the  request  made  in  the  address  of  the  British 
Conference  for  the  doctor's  continuance  with  them ;  and 
also,  that  we  should  respectfully  retain  the  doctor's  name 
in  our  minutes,  agreeably  to  his  request  in  his  second  pro- 
position on  that  head — therefore,  your  committee  report 
the  following  resolutions  : — 

"  1 .  Resolved,  That  the  General  Conference  do  agree 
and  consent  that  Dr.  Coke  may  continue  in  Europe  '  till 
he  be  called  to  the  United  States  by  the  General  Conference^ 
or  by  all  the  annual  conferences  respectively.^ 

"  2.  Resolved,  That  we  do  retain  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  the  services  and  labors  of  Dr.  Coke  among  us  ; 
and  that  the  thanks  of  this  conference  are  hereby  acknow- 
ledged to  him,  and  to  God,  for  all  his  labors  of  love  to- 
ward us,  from  the  time  he  first  left  his  native  country  to 
serve  us. 

"  3.  Resolved,  That  Dr.  Coke's  name  shall  be  retained 
on  our  minutes  after  the  names  of  the  bishops,  in  a  'N.  B. 
Dr.  Coke,  at  the  request  of  the  British  Conference,  and  by 
consent  of  our  General  Conference,  resides  in  Europe  :  he 
is  not  to  exercise  the  office  of  superintendent  or  bishop 
among  us  in  the  United  States,  until  he  be  recalled  by  the 
General  Conference,  or  by  all  the  annual  conferences  re- 
spectively.' 

"  4.  Resolved,  That  the  committee  of  correspondence 
be,  and  are  hereby  directed,  to  draft  two  letters,  one  to  the 
British  Conference,  the  other  to  Dr.  Coke,  in  answer  to 
their  respective  letters  to  us  ;  and  therein  communicating 
to  them  respectively  the  contents  of  the  above  resolutions.' 

The  following  address,  referred  to  in  the  letter 
above  inserted,  of  the  British  to  the  American  Me- 
thodist  General    Conference,  will  show  the   state  of 

2 


216  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1808. 

feeling  existing  between  the  two  bodies,  and  the  earn* 
est  desire  the  fornner  had  for  the  continued  services 
of  Dr.  Coke  : — 

"Very  Dear  Brethren  in  the  Lord  : — The  pleasing 
account  you  gave  us,  in  your  last  address,  of  the  prosper- 
ity of  religion  in  the  United  States,  calls  on  us  for  the  most 
lively  expressions  of  thankfulness  to  God,  who  has  so 
wonderfully  displayed  his  love  among  you  ;  the  more  so, 
as  we  have  heard,  by  very  recent  accounts,  that  the  ope- 
rations of  divine  grace  are  continued,  with  increasing 
effect,  on  the  hearts  of  thousands  in  your  highly-favored 
country.  May  the  Lord  still  prosper  his  blessed  work, 
till  the  whole  earth  is  filled  with  his  glory  ! 

"  While  we  ascribe  all  the  good  that  is  done  to  God 
alone,  as  the  sole  fountain  of  light  and  life,  we  do  not  for- 
get the  instruments  which  it  pleased  him  to  employ.  The 
names  of  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  are  mentioned  in  our  as- 
semblies with  the  greatest  respect  and  affection.  Mr. 
Whatcoat,  we  are  informed,  is  called  to  his  eternal  re- 
ward. This  is,  doubtless,  a  very  gTeat  loss  to  you,  though 
to  him  an  unspeakable  gain.  Yet,  you  well  know,  that 
the  glorious  Head  of  the  church,  who  saw  good  to  remove 
him,  can  supply  his  place  with  a  pastor  after  his  own 
heart,  equally  qualified  to  superintend  his  mourning  flock. 
The  venerable  Mr.  Asbury,  whose  praise  is  in  all  the 
churches,  is  still  with  you, — a  burning  and  a  shining  light. 
We  never  lose  sight  of  the  zeal  he  showed  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  at  the  hazard  of  his  life,  during  the  war  on 
the  continent,  when  all  others  forsook  it  and  fled.  To 
speak  our  sentiments  on  this  subject,  might  pain  his  mind  ; 
we  therefore  restrain  ourselves,  being  well  assured  that  he 
needs  no  encomiums  of  ours  to  recommend  him  to  you  ! 
May  his  last  days  be  crowned  with  increasing  success  in 
his  great  ministerial  labors  ! 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  S17 

"  Respecting  our  union,  dear  brethren,  we  think  of  no 
separation  from  you,  save  the  great  Atlantic.  Our  doc- 
trine, and  manner  of  spreading  the  gospel,  are  the  same, 
and  we  mutually  rejoice  in  each  other's  welfare.  On  this 
principle,  we  conclude,  that  you  will  greatly  rejoice  to 
hear  of  the  flourishing  state  of  vital  godhness  among  us.  In 
this  kingdom,  so  long  distinguished  by  every  privilege 
congenial  to  real  religion,  there  has  been  this  year  an 
increase  of  above  seven  thousand  members  to  our  Society, 
and  near  a  thousand  in  Ireland,  where  the  missionaries 
have  been  greatly  blest  in  their  arduous  undertaking,  par- 
ticularly in  weakening  the  destructive  influence  of  the  man 
of  sin,  and,  we  trust,  in  hastening  the  total  overthrow  of 
idolatry  and  superstition. 

"  What  you  have  said  concerning  our  present  worthy 
secretary,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Coke,  is  no  matter  of  wonder  to 
us,  who  have  long  known  his  value,  the  honor  which  our 
Lord  has  put  upon  him,  and  have  enjoyed  the  fruit  of  his 
labor.  By  a  vote  of  our  conference  this  day,  he  was  re- 
quested to  continue  with  us,  in  case  his  engagements  with 
you,  which  he  has  repeatedly  stated  to  us,  should  admit 
of  it. 

*'  Our  conference  has  been  numerous,  and  many  im- 
portant subjects  have  been  brought  before  us  ;  but,  thanks 
be  to  God,  we  have  been  graciously  preserved  from  the 
evil  one,  and  are  drawing  toward  a  conclusion  in  the  ut- 
most harmony  and  love. 

"  That  the  eternal  God  may  be  your  refuge,  and  the 
everlasting  arms  be  underneath  you  ;  and  that  the  good 
will  of  Him  who  dwelt  in  the  bush  may  be  ever  manifest- 
ed among  you,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of,  very  dear  breth- 
ren, yours,  in  endless  love. 

"  Signed,  in  hehalf  of  the  conference, 

"John  Barber,  President, 

"  Liverpool,  August  11,1 807." 

Vol.  it.— 10. 


218  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  tl809. 

The  answer  of  the  General  Conference  to  this  is 
as  follows  : — 

"  Baltimore,  25th  May,  1808. 

"  Very  Dear  Brethren  and  Fathers  in  Christ  : — 
Your  very  affectionate  address  'to  the  Methodist  General 
Conference  in  America,'  has  been  read  in  our  conference, 
and  afforded  us  great  consolation.  Feeling  with  you  that 
*  our  doctrine  and  manner  of  spreading  the  gospel  are  the 
same,'  that  we  are  united  under  one  glorious  Head,  suffer- 
ing in  the  same  cause,  and  traveling  to  the  same  world  of 
rest,  we  cannot  but  rejoice  in  your  prosperity.  Yes,  breth- 
ren, we  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  great  Head  of  the  church 
has  owned  your  labors,  and  given  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands of  precious  souls  to  your  labors  and  prayers.  But 
above  all,  we  feel  constrained  to  return  thanks  to  the  Fa- 
ther of  lights  for  presiding  over  your  conference,  and  ena- 
bling you  to  draw  to  a  close  in  harmony  and  love  ;  and 
again  to  go  out  into  the  hedges  and  highways,  the  towns 
and  cities,  and  lift  up  your  united  voice  for  the  recovery 
of  a  lost  and  sinking  world.  O  brethren,  if  God  so  won- 
derfully owned  and  blest  the  labors  of  the  few  that  first 
engaged  in  spreading  the  gospel  on  the  itinerant  plan  in 
your  highly-favored  land,  so  that  '  a  little  one  has  become 
a  thousand,'  what  may  we  not  expect  from  the  labors  of 
hundreds  and  thousands,  provided  they  continue  equally 
pure  in  doctrine,  holy  in  life,  and  zealous  for  the  glory  of 
the  Redeemer's  kingdom  ? 

"  We  also,  in  this  highly-favored  country,  have  cause  of 
unceasing  gratitude  and  love  to  our  common  Lord,  for  his 
boundless  love  toward  us.  Although  we  have  had  a  vast 
extent  of  country  to  travel  over,  in  many  parts  stupendous 
chains  of  rocky  mountains  to  climb,  and  uncultivated  re- 
gions to  explore,  yet  hitherto  we  have  been  kept  one ;  and 
our  labors  have  been  crowned  with  success  beyond  our 
most  sanguine  expectations.  Not  only  in  our  towns  and 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  Sl9 

populous  Cities,  and  the  country  adjacent  to  the  Atlantic, 
have  we  seen  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  prosper  in  our 
hand  ;  but  also  to  the  westward  beyond  the  river  Ohio,  to 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Missouri,  we  have  seen  the  travail 
of  the  Redeemer's  soul  coming  home  to  God.  In  those 
places  where  but  a  few  years  ago  the  wild  beast  of  the 
forest  prowled  after  his  prey,  and  the  tawny  savage  lurked 
in  wait  to  murder  the  innocent,  now  houses  are  raised  for  the 
worship  of  God,  precious  souls  have  been  converted  b}' 
hundreds  and  thousands,  and  the  songs  of  Zion  are  heard. 
Truly  the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  have  become 
glad,  and  the  desert  blossoms  as  the  rose.  This  is  the 
Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes. 

"  Our  numbers  are  still  increasing  ;  we  added  more  than 
even  thousand  members  to  our  societies  the  last  year. 
There  are  now  upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
members  within  the  bounds  of  our  charge.  The  prospects 
are  still  opening  and  pleasing.  The  fields  are  white  unto 
the  harvest.  Our  missionaries  in  the  interior  and  upon 
the  frontier  have  been  successful.  But  we  wish  to  rejoice 
with  trembling.  All  the  honor  and  praise  be  ascribed  to 
God  for  ever. 

"  Your  request  for  the  continuance  of  our  beloved  brother 
Dr.  Coke  among  you  has  been  taken  into  the  most  serious 
and  solemn  deliberation  in  our  conference  ;  and  in  com- 
pliance with  your  request,  ^  vote  has  passed  that  he  may 
continue  with  you  until  he  may  be  called  to  us  by  all  the 
annual  conferences  respectively,  or  the  General  Confer- 
ence. We  are,  however,  not  insensible  of  his  value,  or  un- 
gTateful  for  his  past  labors  of  love.  And  we  do  sincerely  pray 
that  the  everlasting  God  may  still  be  with  him,  and  make 
him  a  blessing  to  hundreds  and  thousands  of  immortal  souls. 

"  Our  venerable  father,  Mr.  Asbury,  is  still  spared  to  us  ; 
and  notwithstanding  he  carries  the  weight  of  threescore 
and  three  years,  he  has  been  enabled  regularly  to  visit  all 

2 


220  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  []808. 

the  annual  conferences,  and  to  preside  in  our  General  Con- 
ference. We  esteem  this  a  peculiar  blessing. 

"  As  the  pious  Whatcoat  is  taken  from  us  to  his  eternal 
reward,  we  have  elected  and  set  apart  our  beloved  brother 
William  McKendree,  who  has  been  well  tried  and  found 
faithful  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  nearly  twenty  years, 
to  fill  his  place  as  joint  superintendent  with  Mr.  Asbury. 
And  we  hope  that  the  mantle  of  Elijah  will  rest  upon 
Elisha.  Our  conference  has  been  large,  and  business  of 
the  greatest  importance  has  come  before  us  ;  but  through 
the  infinite  goodness  of  God  we  have  been  preserved  in 
union,  and  are  now  drawing  toward  a  close  in  harmony 
and  love. 

"  Respecting  our  union,  brethren,  we  can  say  with  you, 
we  know  no  separation  save  the  Atlantic.  And  we  wish, 
BO  far  as  circumstances  will  permit,  ever  to  cultivate  the 
most  cordial  afTection. 

"  And  now,  dear  brethren  and  fathers,  praying  that  the 
God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be  your 
guide  and  support  in  life  and  death,  and  that  we  may  all 
meet  in  our  Father's  house  above,  we  remain  yours,  in  un 
ceasing  love. 

"  Signed  by  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  conference.''''* 

As  a  variety  of  conflicting  commentaries  have 
been  made  on  these  proceeilings,  and  especially  upon 
the  letters  of  Dr.  Coke,  some  of  ihem  discreditable 
to  his  character,  and  others  to  the  character  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  it  seems  proper  to  sub- 
join a  few  remarks,  with  a  view  to  set  the  matter  in  a 
just  point  of  light,  referring  the  reader,  for  a  more  full 
vindication  of  those  transactions,  to  the  book  entitled, 

*  The  proper  signatures  are  wanting  in  the  copies  whence 
the  above  letters  are  taken. 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  221 

"  An  Original  Church  of  Christ,"  and  to  the  "Defence 
of  our  Fathers."      Let  it  be  remembered  then, 

1.  That  the  letter  of  Dr.  Coke  to  Bishop  White 
was  his  own  simply,  for  which  no  one  is  responsible 
but  himself,  for  he  consulted  not  the  General  Confer- 
ence at  all,  nor  even  Bishop  Asbury  or  Mr.  Wesley. 
Nay,  it  appears  from  the  letter  itself  that  Dr.  Coke 
was  fully  sensible  that  Bishop  Asbury  would  be  averse 
to  the  plan  of  a  union  between  the  two  Churches. 
If,  therefore,  there  be  any  thing  reprehensible  in  the 
letter  or  in  the  plan  proposed,  neither  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  Bishop  Asbury,  nor  Mr.  Wesley 
is  to  be  held  responsible  for  it,  as  neither  the  one  nor 
the  other  was  at  all  consenting  to  the  proposition.    But, 

2.  It  seems  that  Dr.  Coke  himself  designed  his 
letter  only  as  preparatory  to  an  interview  on  the  sub- 
ject with  Bishop  White,  should  the  proposition  be 
favorably  viewed  by  the  latter.  It  was,  therefore, 
purely  a  con§dential  communication  from  one  friend 
to  another,  the  writer  requesting  Bishop  White  to 
burn  the  letter  in  case  he  should  not  view  the  subject 
favorably  ;  and  even  if  he  should,  the  prehminaries 
were  to  be  discussed  afterward,  and  the  whole  sub- 
feet  submitted  to  the  General  Conference,  whose 
negative  would  have  nullified  the  entire  proceedings. 
The  letter,  therefore,  should  be  considered  only  as  an 
incipient  step  towards  a  union  which  the  \vriter 
greatly  desired  as  a  means,  according  to  his  judgment 
at  the  time,  of  realizing  a  greater  amount  of  good 
than  could  be  in  their  separate  action.  If,  therefore, 
the  end  proposed  could  have  been  realized  without 
any  sacrifice  of  principle,  or  the  use  of  unlawful 
means,  it  might  have  been  sanctioned  by  all  good  men 

2 


222  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

in  each  communion,  without  any  impeachment  of 
either  motive  or  judgment.  In  the  estimation  o^ 
Bishop  Wiiite  himself,  as  appears  from  his  answer  to 
Dr.  Coke,  such  a  union  might  have  been  effected  with- 
out any  derehction  of  duty  on  either  side,  provided 
the  herms  of  the  compact  could  have  been  made  mu- 
tually agreeable.  Futurity  alone  can  fully  declare 
whether  the  motive  in  making  or  rejecting  the  propo- 
sition were  most  in  accordance  with  the  Divine  will, 
or  most  conducive  to  extensive  and  permanent  good. 
In  any,  and  in  every  event,  the  severe  censures  which 
have  been  cast  upon  Dr.  Coke,  and  the  unwarrantable 
conclusions  respecting  the  organization  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  are  not  justified  or  sustained 
by  the  facts  in  the  case,  however  much  we  may  de- 
precate the  making  or  rejecting  the  movements  of 
either  party  in  the  premises. 

3.  The  most  weighty  objection,  however,  to  Dr. 
Coke,  in  making  the  proposal,  is,  that  I^  thereby  ex- 
pressed a  doubt  of  the  vahdity  of  his  own  ordination, 
and  of  course  of  those  on  whom  he  had  laid  his  hands. 
The  reader  is  requested  to  notice  that  this  objec- 
tion has  been  raised  by  the  Protestant  Episcopalians, 
who  consider  presbyterial  ordination  invalid,  and  who 
profess  a  belief  in  the  uninterrupted  succession  of  a 
third  order  in  the  church,  denominated  bishops,  made 
such  by  a  triple  consecration  ;  but  as  this  belief  is 
founded  upon  no  substantial  proof,  as  such  an  ordei 
cannot  be  traced,  nor  therefore  insisted  upon  as  essen- 
tial to  constitute  a  valid  ministry,  the  objection  itself 
can  have  no  solid  foundation  ;  more  especially  as  Dr. 
Coke  himself  says  expressly,  in  the  above  letter  to 
the  General  Conference,  that  he  had  no  confidence  in 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  223 

the  doctrine  of  succession,  and  therefore  considered 
his  consecration  by  Wesley  and  others  as  perfectly 
valid. 

But  Dr.  Coke's  letter  above  quoted,  sets  this  mat- 
ter at  rest  by  the  most  explicit  avowal  on  this  point. 
In  whatever  sense  Bishop  White  might  have  under- 
stood him,  it  is  manifest  that  Dr.  Coke  never  meant  to 
insinuate  that  his  own  ordination  by  Mr.  Wesley,  or 
that  of  those  who  had  received  it  at  his  hands,  was 
wanting  in  any  thing  to  make  it  valid.  This  is  a  con- 
struction put  upon  the  letter  of  Dr.  Coke  not  author- 
ized by  the  letter  itself,  and  is  expressly  contradicted 
in  the  one  he  addressed  to  the  General  Conference. 

4.  But  as  before  said,  whatever  error  may  have 
been  committed  in  this  affair,  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  is  not  accountable  for  it.  It  is  believed 
that  Dr.  Coke  betrayed  too  much  precipitancy  in  refer- 
ence to  this  subject — that  his  great  desire  for  exten- 
sive usefulness  led  him  to  make  the  proposal,  which  he 
did  without  due  consideration — that  before  he  thus 
committed  himself  to  those  who  were  watching  him, 
with  perhaps  some  jealousy,  he  should  have  consulted 
and  obtained  the  consent  of  his. worthy  colleague,  as 
well  as  Mr.  Wesley's  and  the  General  Conference.  It 
is,  moreover,  highly  probable  that  Dr.  Coke  misunder- 
stood the  views  of  Mr.  Wesley,  when  he  told  Bishop 
White  that  had  he  foreseen  some  things,  he  would  not 
have  gone  so  far.  No  other  intimation,  so  far  as  I 
have  been  able  to  learn,  was  ever  given  that  Mr.  Wes- 
ley ever  repented  of  what  he  had  done  for  his  Ameri- 
can brethren.  His  last  letter  to  Ezekiel  Cooper,  but 
a  few  days  before  his  death,  and  the  record  he  made 
in  his  journal  in  reference  to  this  business,  both  prove 

2 


224  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1808. 

that  Dr.  Coke  labored  under  a  mistake  when  he  said 
this.  What  Mr.  Wesley  said  in  regard  to  Mr.  As 
bary's  calling  himself  a  bishop,  and  to  Cokesbury  Col- 
lege, no  more  proves  that  he  repented  of  what  he  had 
done,  than  it  does  that  a  father  is  sorry  that  he  has  a 
promising  son,  merely  because  he  finds  it  necessary 
to  chastise   him  for  his  good. 

It  should  be  observed  that  Dr.  Coke  does  not  say 
in  his  letter  to  Bishop  White  that  he  had  authority 
from  Mr.  Wesley  to  say  that  the  latter  regretted  the 
steps  he  had  taken  in  the  organization  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  but  gives  it  as  his  opinion  only 
that  such  were  Mr.  Wesley's  views  and  feelings. 

The  fact  is,  Dr.  Coke  had  become  alarmed — un 
necessarily  so,  as  subsequent  events  proved — from  the 
disposition  manifested  by  O'Kelly  and  his  partizans, 
fearing  that  a  convulsion  would  take  place  in  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church,  and  that  they  would  be- 
come scattered  abroad.  To  prevent  such  a  calamity, 
Bishop  Asbury  proposed  the  council,  which  had  but 
an  ephemeral  existence,  and  did  not  answer  the  de- 
sign of  its  institution,  to  which  neither  Dr.  Coke  nor 
O'Kelly  was  agreed,  the  former  submitting  to  it  from 
deference  to  Bishop  Asbury,  proposing  in  the  mean 
time  a  General  Conference  as  a  substitute,  which  was 
brought  about  in  179 2,  at  which  time  O'Kelly  withdrew. 

Under  these  alarming  apprehensions  for  the  safety 
of  the  church.  Dr.  Coke  made  the  proposition  for  a 
union  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  from  a 
hope  of  enlarging  the  sphere  of  usefulness  for  his 
Methodist  brethren,  by  creating  a  concentration  of  ac- 
tion for  the  ministry  of  both  communions,  and  thereby 
inspiring  more   public    confidence   in  the    cementing 


1808.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  525 

principles  of  Christianity  and  the  stability  of  its  insti- 
tutions. As,  however,  his  fears  were  groundless,  so 
the  union  proposed  was  both  impolitic  and  unneces- 
sary, as  he  himself  lived  to  see  and  acknowledge. 

It  is  hoped,  therefore,  that  we  may  hear  no  more 
of  the  doubts  of  Dr.  Coke  respecting  the  validity  of 
his  ordination.  And  whatever  errors  he  may  have 
committed  in  this  affair,  let  them  find  an  apology  in 
that  common  frailty  of  human  nature  from  which  none 
is  exempt — the  imperfection  of  human  judgment — ■ 
and  be  buried  in  the  same  tomb  in  which  the  remains 
are  deposited  which  once  shrouded  a  spirit  of  no  com- 
mon mould — a  spirit  actuated  by  the  noblest  princi- 
ples of  philanthropy,  piety,  and  faith. 

We  claim  not  for  Dr.  Coke  perfection  or  infallibi- 
lity of  judgment ;  but  we  do  claim  for  him  an  unsullied 
reputation,  a  purity  of  motive,  guiding  and  actuating 
an  extended  desire  for  usefulness  to  his  fellow-men, 
and  which  a  close  and  critical  inspection  of  his  char- 
acter and  conduct  makes  to  shine  out  with  increased 
lustre  and  a  more  enduring  brightness.  And  if  the 
same  amount  of  goodness  can  be  aw^arded  to  those 
who  have  made  this  vindication  necessary — if  the  same 
apolos^y  for  merely  human  weaknesses  will  serve  to  set 
off  their  virtues  in  the  same  conspicuous  light — we 
shall  rejoice  in  anticipating,  by  the  abounding  mercy 
of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  our  eternal  union  with  them 
all,  in  asc7-ihing  honor  and  glory  to  Him  who  hath 
washed  them  and,  us  in  his  own  blood,  and  hath  made 
us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  for  ever  and  ever. 

There  was  another  very  important  matter  submit- 
ted to  this  General  Conference.  We  have  already 
seen  in  the  preceding  chapter,  the  efforts  which  were 
2  10^ 


226  A   HISTORY    OF   THE  [1808. 

made  by  Bishop  Asbury  and  most  of  ihc  annual  con- 
ferences, lo  convene  a  delegated  General  Conference 
in  1807,  but  thai  the  measure  was  defeated  by  the 
vote  of  the  Virginia  conference.  Not  despairing  of 
accomplishing  an  object  so  desirable  in  itself,  the  sub- 
ject was  presented  to  this  General  Conference  in  the 
following  memorial  : — 

"  Very  Dear  Brethren  : — We  are  as  one  of  the 
seven  eyes  of  the  great  and  increasing  body  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  these  United  States,  which  is 
composed  of  about  five  hundred  traveling,  and  about  two 
thousand  local  preachers,  together  with  upwards  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  thousand  members  ;  these,  (with  our  nu- 
merous congregations  and  families,  spread  over  an  extent 
of  country  more  than  two  thousand  miles  from  one  end  to 
the  other,  amounting,  in  all  probability,  to  more  than  one 
million  of  souls,  which  are,  directly  or  remotely,  under  our 
pastoral  oversight  and  ministerial  charge,)  should  engage 
our  most  sacred  attention,  and  should  call  into  exertion  all 
the  wisdom  and  talents  we  are  possessed  of,  to  perpetuate 
the  unity  and  prosperity  of  the  whole  connection,  and  to  es- 
tablish such  regulations,  rules,  and  form  of  government,  as 
may,  by  the  blessing  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  promote  that 
cause  of  religion  which  is  more  precious  to  us  than  riches, 
honor,  or  life  itself,  and  be  conducive  to  the  salvation  of 
souls,  among  the  generations  yet  unborn.  The  fields  are 
white  unto  harvest  before  us,  and  the  opening  prospect  of 
the  great  day  of  glory  brightens  continually  in  our  view, 
and  we  are  looking  forward  with  hopeful  expectations  for 
the  universal  spread  of  scriptural  truth  and  holiness  over 
the  habitable  globe.  Brethren,  for  what  have  we  labored — 
for  what  have  we  suffered — for  what  have  we  borne  the 
reproach  of  Christ,  with  much  long-suffering,  with  tears 
and  sorrow — but  to  serve  the  great  end  and  eternal  purpose 

2 


1808.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  227 

of  the  grace  of  God,  in  the  present  and  everlasting  felicity 
of  immortal  souls  ? 

''  When  we  take  a  serious  and  impartial  view  of  this  im- 
portant subject,  and  consider  the  extent  of  our  connection, 
the  number  of  our  preachers,  the  great  inconvenience, 
expense,  and  loss  of  time,  that  must  necessarily  result  from 
our  present  regulations  relative  to  our  General  Conferen- 
ces, we  are  deeply  impressed  with  a  thorough  conviction 
that  a  representative  or  delegated  General  Conference, 
composed  of  a  specific  number,  on  principles  of  equal  re- 
presentation, from  the  several  annual  conferences,  would 
be  much  more  conducive  to  the  prosperity  and  general 
unity  of  the  whole  body,  than  the  present  indefinite  and 
numerous  body  of  ministers,  collected  together  unequally 
from  the  various  conferences  to  the  great  inconvenience 
of  the  ministry,  and  injury  of  the  work  of  God. 

"  We  therefore  present  unto  you  this  memorial,  request- 
ing that  you  will  adopt  the  principle  of  an  equal  repre- 
sentation from  the  annual  conferences,  to  form  in  future  a 
delegated  General  Conference,  and  that  you  will  establish 
such  rules  and  regulations  as  are  necessary  to  carry  the 
same  into  effect. 

"  As  we  are  persuaded  that  our  brethren  in  general, 
from  a  view  of  the  situation  and  circumstances  of  the  con- 
nection, must  be  convinced,  upon  mature  and  impartial  re- 
flection, of  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  the  measure,  we 
forbear  to  enumerate  the  various  reasons  and  arguments 
which  might  be  urged  in  support  of  it.  But  we  do  hereby 
instruct,  advise,  and  request  every  member  who  shall  go 
from  our  conference  to  the  General  Conference,  to  urge, 
if  necessary,  every  reason  and  argument  in  favor  of  the 
principle,  and  to  use  all  their  christian  influence  to  have 
the  same  adopted  and  carried  into  effect. 

"  And  we  also  shall  and  do  invite  and  request  our  breth- 
ren in  the  several  annual  conferences  which  are  to  sit  be- 


% 


\ 


226  A  HISTORY   OF   THE  [1808. 

tween  this  and  the  General  Conference,  to  join  and  unite 
Avith  us  in  the  subject  matter  of  this  memorial.  We  do 
hereby  candidly  and  openly  express  our  opinion  and  wish, 
with  the  firmest  attachment  to  the  unity  and  prosperity  of 
the  connection  ;  hoping  and  praying  that  our  chief  Shep- 
herd and  Bishop  of  our  souls,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  may 
direct  you  in  all  wisdom,  righteousness,  brotherly  love,  and 
Christian  unity. 

"  We  are,  dear  brethren,  in  the  bonds  of  gospel  ties, 
most  affectionately  yours,  &c. 

"  By  order  and  in  behalf  of  the  New -York  conference^ 
without  a  dissenting  vote. 

"  (Signed)       Francis  Ward,  Sec'y. 
"  Coeyman's  Patent,  May  the  7th,  1807." 

This  memorial,  it  seems,  had  been  submitted  to 
several  of  the  annual  conferences,  and  concurred  in, 
as  appears  by  the  record,  by  the  New  England,  Ohio, 
and  South  Carolina  conferences  ;  and,  accordingly,  it 
had  been  requested,  that  as  full  a  representation  as 
practicable,  should  attend  the  present  session  of  the 
General  Conference,  that  a  full  expression  of  the  voice 
of  the  several  annual  conferences  should  be  heard  in 
regard  to  this  measure. 

After  the  memorial  was  read,  it  was  referred  to  a 
committee  of  two  members  from  each  annual  confer- 
ence, chosen  by  the  representatives  of  each  confer 
ence  from  among  themselves  ;  and  the  following  mem 
hers  composed  the  connmittee  : — 
^New-York  Conference — Ezekiel  Cooper,  John 
Wilson  ;  New-England  do.,  George  Pickering,  Joshua 
Soule  ;  Western  do.,  William  M'Kendree,  William 
Burke  ;  South  Carolina  do.,  William  Phoebus,  Josias 
Randle  ;  Virginia  do.,  Philip  Bruce,  Jesse  Lee j  Bal- 


1808J  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  229 

timore  do.,  Stephen  G.  Roszell,  Nelson  Reed  ;  Phila- 
delphia do.,  John  M'Claskey,  Thomas  Ware. 

On  Monday,  the  16lh,  the  committee  presented 
the  following  report,  which,  after  a  long  debate,  was 
rejected  by  a  vote  of  57  for  and  64  against  it  : — 

"  Whereas,  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the  doc- 
trine, form  of  government,  and  general  rules  of  the  United 
Societies  in  America  be  preserved  sacred  and  inviolable  : 
and  whereas  every  prudent  measure  should  be  taken  to 
preserve,  strengthen,  and  perpetuate  the  union  of  the  con- 
nection : — 

"  Therefore,  your  committee,  upon  mature  deliberation, 
have  thought  it  advisable  that  the  third  section  of  the  form 
of  Discipline  shall  be  as  follows,  viz  : — 

"section    III. 

"  Of  the   General  Conference. 

"  1.  The  General  Conference  shall  be  composed  of  de- 
legates from  the -annual  conferences. 

"  2.  The  delegates  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot  without  de- 
bate, in  the  annual  conferences  respectively,  in  the  last 
meeting  of  conference  previous  to  the  sitting  of  the  Gene- 
ral Conference. 

"  3.  Each  annual  conference  respectively  shall  have  a 
right  to  send  seven  elders,  members  of  their  conference, 
as  delegates  to  the  General  Conference. 

"  4.  Each  annual  conference  shall  have  a  right  to  send 
one  delegate  in  addition  to  the  seven,  for  every  ten  mem- 
bers belonging  to  such  conference,  ov^er  and  above  fifty, 
so  that  if  there  be  sixty  members  they  shall  send  eight ; 
if  seventy,  they  shall  send  nine,  and  so  on  in  proportion. 

"  5.  The  General  Conference  shall  meet  on  the  first  day 
of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1812  ;  and  thenceforward 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  once  in  four  years  perpetually,  at 

2 


230  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

such  place  or  places  as  shall  be  fixed  on  by  the  General 
Conference  from  time  to  time. 

'*  6.  At  all  times  when  the  General  Conference  is  met, 
it  shall  take  two  thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  delegates 
to  form  a  quorum. 

"  7.  One  of  the  general  superintendents  shall  preside  in 
the  General  Conference  ;  but  in  case  no  general  superin- 
tendent be  present,  the  General  Conference  shall  choose 
a  president  pro  tem. 

"  8.  The  General  Conference  shall  have  full  powers  to 
make  rules,  regulations,  and  canons  for  our  church,  under 
the  following  limitations  and  restrictions,  viz : 

"  The  General  Conference  shall  not  revoke,  alter,  or 
change  our  articles  of  religion  ;  nor  establish  any  new 
standards  or  rules  of  doctrine  contrary  to  our  present  ex- 
isting and  established  standards  of  doctrine. 

"  They  shall  not  lessen  the  number  of  seven  delegates 
from  each  annual  conference,  nor  allow  of  a  greater  num- 
ber from  any  annual  conference  than  is  provided  for  in  the 
fourth  paragraph  of  this  section. 

"  They  shall  not  change  or  alter  any  part  or  rule  of  our 
government,  so  as  to  do  away  episcopacy,  or  to  destroy  the 
plan  of  our  itinerant  general  superintendency. 

"  They  shall  not  revoke  or  change  the  general  rules  of 
the  United  Societies. 

"  They  shall  not  do  away  the  privileges  of  our  ministers 
or  preachers  of  trial  by  a  committee,  and  of  an  appeal. 

"  Neither  shall  they  appropriate  the  produce  of  the  Book 
Concern,  or  of  the  Charter  Fund,  to  any  purpose  other  than  for 
the  benefit  of  the  traveling,  superannuated,  supernumerary 
and  worn  out  preachers,  their  wives,  widows,  and  children. 

"  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  upon  the  joint  recommend- 
ation of  all  the  annual  conferences,  then  a  majority  of  two 
thirds  of  the  General  Conference  succeeding,  shall  suffice 
to  alter  any  of  the  above  restrictions." 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  231 

After  discussing  this  report  for  one  whole  day,  it 
was,  by  a  vote  of  the  conference,  postponed  until  the 
reconsideration  of  the  question  respecting  the  manner 
in  which  the  presiding  elders  should  thereafter  be  ap- 
pointed. After  it  was  decided  that  they  should  con- 
tinue to  be  appointed  as  heretofore  by  the  bishops,  on 
Wednesday  the  18th,  the  consideration  of  the  re- 
port was  resumed,  and  after  some  debate  the  entire 
report  was,  as  before  stated,  rejected  by  a  majority  of 
seven  votes. 

The  rejection  of  this  report  was  a  source  of  much 
regret  and  disappointment  to  most  of  the  older  preach- 
ers who  were  present,  and  particularly  to  Bishop  As- 
bury,  as  they  clearly  saw  the  necessity  of  adopting 
some  plan  by  which  the  doctrines  of  the  church,  its 
form  of  government,  and  its  general  rules,  might  be 
preserved  from  deterioration,  and  also  by  which  a 
more  equal  representation  from  the  several  annual 
conferences  should  be  secured.  These  things  led  to 
further  consultation  upon  the  subject,  and  it  issued 
finally  in  the  adoption,  almost  unanimously,  of  the  fol- 
lowing regulations  and  limitations  : — 

"  Q.  Who  shall  compose  the  General  Conference,  and 
what  are  the  regulations  and  powers  belonging  to  it  ? 

''A.  1.  The  General  Conference  shall  be  composed  of 
one  member  for  every  five  members  of  each  annual  con- 
ference, to  be  appointed  by  seniority  or  choice,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  such  annual  conference  ;  yet  so  that  such  repre- 
sentatives shall  have  traveled  four  full  calendar  years  from 
the  time  they  were  received  on  trial  by  an  annual  confer- 
ence, and  are  in  full  connection  at  the  time  of  holding  the 
conference. 

2 


232  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

"  2.  The  General  Conference  shall  meet  on  the  first  day 
of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1812,  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  and  thenceforward  on  the  first  day  of  May  once  in 
four  years  perpetually,  in  such  place  or  places  as  shall  be 
fixed  by  the  General  Conference  from  time  to  time  ;  but 
the  general  superintendents,  with  or  by  the  advice  of  all 
the  annual  conferences,  or,  if  there  be  no  general  superin- 
tendents, all  the  annual  conferences  respectively,  shall 
have  power  to  call  a  General  Conference,  if  they  judge  it 
necessary,  at  any  time. 

•'  3.  At  all  times  when  the  General  Conference  is  met, 
it  shall  take  two  thirds  of  the  representatives  of  all  the 
annual  conferences  to  make  a  quorum  for  the  transacting 
of  business. 

"  4.  One  of  the  general  superintendents  shall  preside  in 
the  General  Conference  ;  but  in  case  no  general  superin- 
tendent be  present,  the  General  Conference  shall  choose 
a  president  pro  tempore. 

"  5.  The  General  Conference  shall  have  full  powers  to 
make  rules  and  regulations  for  our  Church,  under  the  fol- 
lowing limitations  and  restrictions,  viz. : 

"  1.  The  General  Conference  shall  not  revoke,  alter,  or 
change  our  Articles  of  Religion,  nor  establish  any  new 
standards  or  rules  of  doctrine,  contrary  to  our  present 
existing  and  established  standards  of  doctrine. 

"  2.  They  shall  not  allow  of  more  than  one  representa- 
tive for  every  five  members  of  the  annual  conference,  nor 
allow  of  a  less  number  than  one  for  every  seven. 

"  3.  They  shall  not  change  or  alter  any  part  or  rule  of 
our  government,  so  as  to  do  away  episcopacy,  or  to  destroy 
the  plan  of  our  itinerant  general  superintendency. 

"  4.  They  shall  not  revoke  or  change  the  general  rules 
of  the  United  Societies. 

"  5.  They  shall  not  do  away  the  privileges  of  our  minis- 
ters or  preachers  of  a  trial  by  a  committee,  and  of  an  ap- 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  233 

peal ;  neither  shall  they  do  away  the  privileges  of  our 
members  of  trial  before  the  society  or  by  a  select  number, 
and  of  an  appeal. 

"  6.  They  shall  not  appropriate  the  produce  of  the  Book 
Concern  or  of  the  Charter  Fund  to  any  purpose  other  than 
for  the  benefit  of  the  traveling,  supernumerary^  superannu- 
ated, and  worn  out  preachers,  their  wives,  widows,  and 
children. 

"  7.  Provided,  nevertheless,  that,  upon  the  joint  recom- 
mendation of  all  the  annual  conferences,  then  a  majority 
of  two-thirds  of  the  General  Conference  succeeding,  shall 
suffice  to  alter  any  of  the  above  resolutions." 

The  unanimity  with  which  these  restrictive  regula- 
tions were  adopted  by  the  conference,  shows  the  deep, 
sense  which  was  very  generally  felt  of  the  propriety 
of  limiting  the  powers  of  the  General  Conference,  so 
as  to  secure  for  ever  the  essential  doctrines  of  Chris- 
tianity from  all  encroachments,  as  well  as  those  rules 
of  moral  conduct,  so  succinctly  and  precisely  embo- 
died in  the  General  Rules,  and  also  to  prevent  the  ap- 
propriations of  the  available  funds  of  the  church  from 
being  diverted  to  other  objects  than  those  for  which 
they  had  been  established.  Call  these  rules,  there- 
fore, restrictive  regulations,  or  a  constitution  of  the 
Church — for  we  contend  not  about  names  merely — 
they  have  ever  since  been  considered  as  sacredly  bind- 
ing upon  all  succeeding  General  Conferences,  limit- 
ing them  in  all  their  legislative  acts,  and  prohibiting 
them  from  making  inroads  upon  the  docrines,  gene- 
ral rules,  and  government  of  the  church. 

Before  this,  each  General  Conference  felt  itself  at 
full  liberty,  not  being  prohibited  by  any  standing  laws, 
to  make  whatever  alterations  it  might  see  fit,  or  to  in- 

2 


234  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

Iroduce  any  new  doctrine  or  item  in  the  Discipline, 
which  either  fancy,  incHnation,  discretion,  or  indiscre- 
tion might  dictate.  Under  this  state  of  things,  know- 
ing the  rage  of  man  for  novelty,  and  witnessing  the 
destructive  changes  which  have  frequently  laid  waste 
churches,  by  removing  ancient  land-marks,  and  so 
modifying  doctrines  and  usages  as  to  suit  the  temper 
of  the  times,  or  to  gratify  either  a  corrupt  taste  or  a 
perverse  disposition,  many  had  felt  uneasy  apprehen- 
sions for  the  safety  and  unity  of  the  church,  and  the 
stability  of  its  doctrines,  moral  discipline,  and  the 
frame  of  its  government ;  and  none  were  more  soli- 
citous upon  this  subject  than  Bishop  Asbury,  who  had 
labored  so  long  with  an  assiduity  equalled  by  few, 
if  indeed  any,  and  suffered  so  much  for  the  propa- 
gation and  establishing  of  these  important  points  ;  he 
therefore  greatly  desired,  before  he  should  be  called 
hence,  to  see  them  fixed  upon  a  permanent  founda- 
tion. The  lively  satisfaction,  too,  with  which  this  act 
of  the  conference  was  received  generally,  both  by  min- 
isters and  people,  abundantly  proves  the  wisdom  which 
presided  in  that  council  which  devised  these  resolu- 
tions, and  applauds  the  prudence  and  caution  with 
which  they  were  so  cordially  adopted.  And  although 
the  progress  of  events  has  dictated  the  expediency  of 
some  modification  in  the  iron-like  bond  of  the  proviso, 
yet  time  and  experience  have  borne  a  faithful  testimo- 
ny to  the  salutary  influence  of  the  restrictions  them- 
selves, on  the  peace  and  unity  of  the  church. 

The  death  of  Bishop  Whatcoat,  and   the   absence 
of  Dr.  Coke,  left  Bishop  Asbury  alone  in  the  super- 
intendency.      This  was  a  burden,  in   the  present  en- 
larged state  of  the  work,  he  was  not  able  longer  to 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  235 

bear ;  and  hence  a  resolution  passed  the  conference 
on  the  twelfth  day  of  its  session,  for  the  election  and 
consecration  of  an  additional  bishop.  Before,  how- 
ever, this  motion  prevailed,  a  motion  for  the  election 
of  seven  additional  bishops,  one  for  each  annual  con- 
ference, with  Bishop  Asbury  at  their  head,  was  large- 
ly and  ably  discussed  by  some  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  conference  on  each  side.  Those,  how- 
ever, who  were  in  favor  of  this  motion,  were  also  in 
favor  of  either  abolishing  or  greatly  restricting  the  of- 
fice of  presiding  elder,  and  making  the  episcopacy  so 
large  as  in  a  great  measure  to  supersede  the  neces- 
sity of  that  office.  But  as  it  was  finally  settled  by  a 
large  majority  of  the  conference,  that  this  officer  should 
be  continued  in  the  church,  and  likewise  continue  to  be 
appointed  by  the  bishop,  so  the  motion  for  adding 
seven  additional  bishops,  notwithstanding  the  plausi- 
bility with  which  the  measure  was  urged  upon  the 
conference,  was  finally  rejected  by  a  strong  vote. 

It  was  then  moved  that  two  additional  bishops  be 
elected  and  consecrated.  This  also,  after  a  free  inter- 
change of  views,  was  decided  in  the  negative,  when 
the  resolution  in  favor  of  one  was  adopted  almost  una 
iiimously.  The  next  question  to  be  decided,  was,  who 
should  be  the  man. 

On  the  same  day  on  which  the  resolution  passed, 
the  conference  proceeded  to  the  election  by  ballot, 
and  on  counting  the  votes,  it  was  found  that  out  of 
1 28,  the  number  of  members  present,  William  M^ Ken- 
dree  had  95  in  his  favor,"^  and  was  therefore  declared 

*  I  do  not  find  on  the  journal  of  the  conference  any  record 
of  the  names  of  those  for  whom  the  others  voted,  but  I  believe 
they  were  divided  betvi^een  Ezekiel  Cooper  and  Jesse  Lee,  the 
former  having  28  votes  in  his  favor. 

% 


236  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

to  be  duly  elected  ;  and  on  ihe  17lh  of  May,  1808, 
lie  was  consecrated  in  the  Light-street  church  by 
Bishop  Asbury,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Freeborn 
Garrettson,  Phihp  Bruce,  Jesse  Lee,  and  Thomas 
Ware. 

Mr.  M'Kendree  had  been  commended  to  the  atten- 
tion and  approbation  of  the  conference,  by  a  long,  la- 
borious, and  faithful  service  in  the  itinerant  field  of 
labor,  during  which  time  God  had  set  his  seal  to  his 
ministry  in  a  most  remarkable  manner. 

William  M'Kendree  was  born  of  reputable  parents, 
m  Kin'g  William  county,  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  on 
the  6th  day  of  July,  1757,  and  was  educated  in  the 
Church  of  England.  In  the  year  1787,  in  the  30th 
year  of  his  age,  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John 
Easter,  Mr.  M'Kendree  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of 
his  lost  condition,  and  thence  led  to  seek  and  obtain 
an  interest  in  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ.  Impelled 
by  an  inextinguishable  thirst  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 
he  was  led  into  the  "  ministry  of  reconciliation,"  and 
in  1788  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Virginia  con 
ference.  He  soon  gave  evidence  of  great  ardor  of 
mind  in  the  cause  of  God,  and  of  superior  abilities  as 
a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 

In  the  great  agitation  which  was  produced  by  the 
conduct  of  O'Kelly  and  his  partisans,  his  mind  be- 
came for  a  short  season  greatly  perplexed  with  the 
controversy  which  arose  out  of  the  questions  which 
were  then  mooted,  and,  fearing  that  the  course  taken 
by  the  conference  might  prove  injurious  to  the  cause 
of  religion,  he  declined  taking  a  regular  appointment 
for  that  year.  He  was,  however,  soon  convinced  of 
his  error,  and,  at  the  request  of  the  bishop,  was  sta- 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  237 

tioned  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  in  1793.  These  thmgs  led 
him  to  a  more  critical  inquiry  into  those  points  of  con- 
troversy then  agitated,  and  the  result  was  a  more  tho- 
rough conviction  than  ever  of  the  scriptural  character 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  of  his  duty  to 
adhere  to  it  with  firmness  and  fidelity,  which  he  did  to 
the  end  of  his  life. 

In  1796  he  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  a  dis- 
trict in  the  Virginia  conference,  which  trust  he  ful- 
filled with  great  fidelity  and  success  for  three  years, 
when  he  was  removed  to  the  Baltimore  district,  over 
which  he  presided  one  year  with  great  dignity  and 
usefulness,  laboring  with  assiduity  to  spread  "  the 
knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  sins." 

At  the  end  of  this  term  he  was  selected  by  Bish- 
ops Asbury  and  Whatcoat,  who  were  going  on  their 
tour  to  the  western  country,  to  take  charge  of  the  dis- 
trict which  then  comprehended  the  whole  of  the  west- 
ern conference.  Here  he  had  to  travel  about  fifteen 
hundred  miles  every  three  months,  in  order  to  pass 
around  and  through  his  district.  He  entered  upon 
this  new  field  of  labor  with  that  enlightened  zeal  which 
had  heretofore  distinguished  him,  and  was  the  happy 
and  honored  instrument  of  extending  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom  far  into  these  new  settlements,  in  some  parts 
of  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio.  While  here,  the 
camp-meetings  commenced,  before  described,  which 
were  instrumental  in  promoting  the  extensive  revivals 
of  religion  with  which  those  parts  of  the  country  were 
so  highly  favored.  Into  this  work  he  entered  with 
all  his  soul,  traveling  and  preaching  through  the  set- 
tlements, and  was  everywhere  hailed  as  a  messenger 
of  God,      Here  he   was  instrumental,  in   connection 

2 


238  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808 

with  those  associated  with  him  in  this  good  work,  in 
laying  the  foundation  of  that  hving  temple  which  has 
been  erected  in  that  country. 

It  was  from  this  field  of  labor  that  Mr.  M'Kendree 
came  to  the  General  Conference  in  1808.  And  such 
was  the  confidence  inspired  in  his  wisdom  and  integ- 
rity, in  his  zeal  and  prudence  in  promoting  the  cause 
of  God,  and  such  a  halo  of  glory  seemed  to  surround 
his  character,  that  the  finger  of  Providence  appeared 
to  point  to  him  as  the  most  suitable  person  to  fill  the 
office  of  a  superintendent. 

Though  personally  unknown  to  most  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  conference,  yet  a  sermon  which  he  de- 
livered in  the  Light-street  church  on  the  Sabbath 
morning  previously  to  the  day  of  his  election,  had 
such  an  effect  on  the  minds  of  all  present,  that  they 
seemed  to  say,  with  one  accord,  "  This  is  the  man  of 
our  choice,  whom  God  hath  appointed  to  rule  ovei 
us."  He  was  accordingly  elected  and  consecrated  as 
before  related  ;  and  his  subsequent  life  and  conduct 
prove  that  the  choice  fell  upon  the  right  man,  though 
his  administration  was  often  subjected  to  the  severest 
lest  and  most  critical  scrutiny. 

At  this  conference,  Ezekiel  Cooper  resigned  his 
station  as  editor  and  general  book  steward,  and  John 
Wilson  and  Daniel  Hitt,  the  former  having  served 
four  years  as  the  assistant  of  Mr.  Cooper,  were  elected 
to  fill  the  station.  A  rule  also  passed  the  conference 
prohibiting  any  one  to  serve  in  this  office  more  than 
eight  years  successively. 

The  following  regulation  was  adopted  in  respect  to 
the  election  and  consecration  of  local  preachers  to  the 
office  of  deacons  ; — 
2 


1808.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  239 

"  The  bishops  have  obtained  liberty,  by  the  suffrages  of 
the  conference,  to  ordain  local  preachers  to  the  office  of 
deacons,  provided  their  characters  pass  in  examination, 
and  obtain  the  approbation  of  the  yearly  conference,  with 
a  testimonial  from  the  quarterly  meeting  of  their  respective 
circuits,  after  proper  examination,  signed  by  the  president 
and  countersigned  by  the  secretary." 

The  following  rules  respecting  raising  supplies 
were  adopted  : — 

"  Every  annual  conference  has  full  liberty  to  adopt  and 
recommend  such  plans  and  rules  as  to  them  may  appear 
necessary,  the  m.ore  effectually  to  raise  supplies  for  the  re- 
spective allowances. 

"  If  the  respective  allowances  are  not  raised,  as  pro* 
vided  for,  the  connection  shall  not  be  accountable  for  the 
deficiency,  as  in  case  of  debt." 

The  section  respecting  the  trial  and  expulsion  of 
members  for  a  delinquency  in  the  payment  of  debts, 
and  other  disputes,  was  so  amended  as  to  allow  a 
legal  process  when  it  is  judged  the  case  is  such  as 
to  require  it. 

In  the  question  respecting  permitting  "  strangers" 
at  the  meeting  of  the  class  and  society,  the  word 
*'  strangers"  was  exchanged  for  the  words,  **  those  who 
are  not  of  our  society,"  so  as  to  read,  "  How  often  shall 
we  permit  those  who  are  not  of  our  society  to  meet  in 
class  or  society  ?" 

After  these  transactions,  together  with  a  few  verbal 
alterations  in  some  sections  of  the  Discipline,  which 
do  not  much  affect  the  sense,  on  the  26th  day  of  the 
month  the  conference  adjourned,  never  more  to  meet 
under  the  same  circumstances,  as  hereafter  the  con 


840  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1809 

ference  was  to  be  composed  of  delegates  chosen  by 
the  respective  annual  conferences. 

In  conformity  to  the  resolution  of  the  conference 
m  relation  to  Dr.  Coke,  the  following  was  inserted  in 
the  minutes  : — 

"  Dr.  Coke,  at  the  request  of  the  British  Conference, 
and  by  consent  of  our  General  Conference,  resides  in 
Europe.  He  is  not  to  exercise  the  office  of  superintend- 
ent among  us  in  the  United  States,  until  he  be  recalled  by 
the  General  Conference,  or  by  all  the  annual  conferences 
respectively." 

From  this  period,  therefore.  Dr.  Coke  resided  in 
Europe,  until  he  commenced  the  missionary  voyage  to 
Asia,  in  which  he  fell  a  martyr  to  his  work,  in  the 
midst  of  the  Indian  ocean,  where  he  was  entombed 
beneath  its  coral  sands,  until  the  last  trumpet  shall  bid 
his  "  sleeping  dust"  awake  to  everlasting  life  and  glory. 


CHAPTER  vni. 

From  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  of  1808,  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  General  Conference  of  1812. 

1808.  There  were  no  additional  conferences  cre- 
ated this  year,  the  whole  of  the  work  in  the  United 
States  and  Territories,  as  well  as  in  Upper  and  Lower 
Canada,  being  comprehended  in  the  seven  already  ex- 
isting. 

It  appears  that  both  preachers  and  people  were 
generally  satisfied  with  what  had  been  done  by  the 
last  General  Conference,  and  the  experience  of  thirty 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  241 

years  has  abundantly  tested  the  wisdom  of  the  plan 
of  securing  an  equal  representation  from  the  several 
annual  conferences,  acting,  when  together,  under  the 
limitations  which  that  conference  saw  fit  to  impose. 
The  preachers,  therefore,  went  to  their  several  sta- 
tions with  hearts  burning  with  love  to  their  fellow- 
men,  and  a  determination  to  devote  themselves  en- 
tirely to  their  peculiar  work.  And  though  but  few 
new  circuits  were  added  this  year,  yet  the  work  of 
God  gradually  increased  and  spread  among  the  people, 
both  in  the  old  and  new  countries. 

Bishop  Asbury  felt  himself  greatly  relieved  from 
the  burden  of  responsibility  resting  upon  him  as  the 
sole  superintendent,  by  the  active  and  diligent  manner 
in  which  the  newly  elected  and  consecrated  bishop 
entered  upon  the  labors  of  his  office  : — "The  burden," 
he  remarks,  "  is  now  borne  by  two  pair  of  shoulders 
instead  of  one — the  care  is  cast  upon  two  hearts  and 
heads."  He,  however,  by  no  means  remitted  any  of 
his  labors,  but  with  the  same  characteristic  ardor  and 
diligence,  we  find  him  moving  through  the  general  work, 
giving  tone  to  the  spirit  of  reformation  which  was 
now  pervading  different  portions  of  the  country,  par 
ticularly  through  the  agency  of  camp-meetings. 
Hence  we  find  him  this  year,  in  company  with  Bish- 
op M'Kendree,  after  passing  through  some  of  the  older 
settlements  of  Pennsylvania,  crossing  the  mountains 
and  descending  into  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  ; 
and  notwithstanding  the  growing  infirmities  of  body 
under  which  he  often  groaned,  he  visited  several  of 
their  camp-meetings,  and  preached  to  the  people,  ex- 
horting them  to  steadfastness  in  the  faith. 

While  here  he  had   an  opportunity  of  manifesting 

Vol,  H.— 1  I 


242  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808 

the  tender  sensibilities  of  his  soul  over  the  grave  of 
one  of  his  departed  friends.  Passing  by  the  grave, 
he  says  : — 

"  It  was  as  much  as  I  could  do  to  forbear  weeping  as  I 
mused  over  her  speaking  grave.  How  sweetly  eloquent ! 
Ah  !  the  world  knows  little  of  my  sorrows — little  knows 
how  dear  to  me  are  my  many  friends,  and  how  deeply  I 
feel  their  loss.  But  they  all  die  in  the  Lord,  and  this  shall 
comfort  me." 

His  colleague,  Bishop  M'Kendree,  also  entered 
upon  his  work  with  equal  diligence,  making  the  entire 
circuit  of  the  continent  from  year  to  year.  One  rea- 
son assigned  by  Bishop  Asbury  why  it  became  him 
to  visit,  as  nearly  as  practicable,  every  part  of  the 
work  was,  that  the  preachers  and  people  ought  to 
know  their  bishop,  and  that  he  ought  to  know  them, 
so  as  to  be  able  to  sympathize  with  them  in  their 
wants  and  sufferings,  to  understand  their  true  state,  as 
well  as  to  set  an  example  to  all  which  they  might 
safely  and  profitably  imitate.  Hence,  while  in  the 
western  country,  he  says,  "  I  feel  for  the  people  of 
this  territory  ;  but  we  must  suffer  with  them  if  we 
expect  to  feel  for  them  as  we  ought ;  and  here  are 
the  disadvantages  of  a  local  episcopacy,  because  it 
cannot  be  interested  for  its  charge  as  it  should  be,  be- 
cause it  sees  not,  suffers  not  with,  and  therefore  feels 
not  for  the  people."  And  therefore  for  the  first  year 
of  Bishop  M'Kendree's  episcopal  labors,  his  father  in 
the  gospel  led  him  around  from  one  part  of  the  work 
to  another,  introduced  him  to  the  conferences,  and 
made  him  acquainted,  as  far  as  possible,  with  the 
people  of  his  charge.  And  what  a  charge  !  To  travel 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  243 

from  Georgia  to  Maine,  from  thence  through  Vermont 
and  along  the  lakes  into  the  western  slates,  following 
the  waters  of  the  Ohio,  the  Mississippi,  the  Tennessee 
and  the  Cumberland  rivers,  ascending  the  hills  and 
crossing  the  intervening  valleys,  lodging  sometimes  in 
log  huts,  and  not  unfrequently  in  the  woods,  attend- 
ing the  conferences,  preaching  almost  every  day,  re- 
ceiving visiters,  writing  letters,  and  hearing  the  griev- 
ances of  discontented  individuals  !  This  was  labor  ! 
and  labor,  too,  actually  performed  by  those  who  were  at 
that  time  honored  with  presiding  over  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  And  does  the  reader  wish  to 
hear  how  such  travels  and  labors  were  performed  ?  Let 
Bishop  Asbury  answer.  Speaking  of  his  departure 
from  a  camp-meeting  which  he  and  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree  had  attended  in  Tennessee,  he  says  : — 

"  The  right  way  to  improve  a  short  day  is  to  stop  only 
to  feed  the  horses  ;  and  let  the  riders,  meanwhile,  take  a 
bite  of  what  they  may  have  been  provident  enough  to  put 
into  their  pockets." 

As  they  thus  moved  around  from  one  annual  con- 
ference to  another.  Bishop  Asbury  could  direct  the 
attention  of  his  colleague  to  the  fields  which  had 
been  sown  by  those  who  had  already  cultivated  the 
ground. 

Take  another  extract  trom  his  journal  for  this  year, 
as  an  instance  of  the  mode  in  which  they  traveled, 
and  of  the  feelings  which  were  inspired  under  these 
things,  and  the  prospects  before  them.  They  were 
now  in  the  state  of  Georgia,  having  crossed  the  moun- 
tains from  Tennessee  and  arrived  among  the  older 
settlements.      While  here  he  says  : — 

S 


244  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

**  My  flesh  sinks  under  labor.  We  are  riding  in  a  poor 
thirty  dollar  chaise,  in  partnership,  two  bishops  of  us,  but 
it  must  be  confessed  that  it  tallies  well  with  the  weight  of 
our  purses.  What  bishops !  Well — but  we  have  great 
news,  and  we  have  great  times,  and  each  western,  south- 
ern, and  the  Virginia  conference  will  have  one  thousand 
souls  truly  converted  to  God.  Is  not  this  an  equivalent  for  a 
light  purse  ?  And  are  we  not  well  paid  for  starving  and 
toil  ?     Yes,  glory  to  God  !" 

This,  indeed,  was  the  reward  for  which  he  looked, 
for  it  may  surprise  some  readers  to  know  that  the 
.salary  of  these  bishops  amounted  to  the  enormous 
sum  of  eighty  dollars  a  year,  besides  their  traveling 
expenses.  Yet  this  is  the  fact,  and  from  this  pittance 
they  had  to  supply  themselves  with  clothes  and  tra- 
veling apparatus.  Hence  he  refers  in  the  above  ex- 
tract, to  the  "  weight  of  their  purses." 

While,  however,  they  were,  in  some  places,  called 
upon  to  suffer  these  privations,  yet,  in  other  places, 
they  knew  "how  to  abound,  having  all  things"  needful 
for  temporal  comfort,  surrounded  by  the  kindest  friends, 
and  comforted  by  their  unaffected  greetings  of  friendship. 
Under  these  circumstances,  they  poured  out  their  hearts 
in  grateful  acknowledgments  to  God  for  his  goodness 
in  raising  them  up  friends  to  comfort  them  and  adminis- 
ter to  their  wants,  at  the  same  time  expressing  a  fear  lest 
those  abundant  marks  of  favor  should  make  them  forget 
their  dependence  on  God,  or  neglect  him  as  the  "  Giver 
of  every  good  and  perfect  gift."  But  whether  in  want  or 
abounding  in  plenty,  they  went  on  their  way,  rejoicing 
in  all  the  good  things  which  the  Lord  was  doing  for 
the  people,  and  contributing  by  their  preaching  and 
example  to  invite  all  their  brethren  to  diligence  and 
2 


1808.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  245 

perseverance  in  their  respective  spheres  of  labor. 
This  was  an  efficient  general  superintendency,  worthy 
of  the  name,  and  answering  the  end  of  its  institution. 

Among  other  places,  the  new  settlements  in  some 
portions  of  the  state  of  Ohio  were  this  year  visited 
with  outpourings  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  We  have  al- 
ready noticed  the  influence  which  the  camp-meetings 
exerted  on  the  inhabitants  of  that  country,  and  that 
their  continuance,  freed  from  the  wild  irregularities 
which  had  rendered  them  suspicious  in  some  places, 
was  a  means  of  diffusing  the  spirit  of  reformation  and 
of  sound  piety  through  the  settlements.  Along  the 
banks  of  Paint  Creek  and  the  Great  Miami,  the  work 
flourished  greatly  during  this  and  several  subsequent 
years,  so  that,  as  before  stated,  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, 1807,  an  annual  conference  was  held  in  Chi 
licothe,  and  another  in  1809. 

This  year  was  distinguished  by  a  very  considerable 
revival  of  religion  in  the  Mad  river  country.  Among 
others  who  were  made  partakers  c^  divine  grace,  was 
a  Mr.  Kenton,  who  was  one  of  the  first  adventurers 
into  the  wilderness  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  and  had 
been  a  companion  of  the  celebrated  Boone,  the  hardy 
pioneer  into  Kentucky.  Kenton,  after  living  for  some 
time  near  Maysville  in  Kentucky,  finally  settled  on 
the  banks  of  Mad  river.  He  had  often  displayed  the 
most  intrepid  courage  in  contending  with  the  savages 
of  the  wilderness,  in  conquering  and  slaying  the  wild 
beasts  of  the  forest,  and  enduring  all  those  hardships 
which  are  incident  to  the  life  of  a  rover  through  the 
western  woods  and  prairies.  And  though  once  or 
twice  taken  a  prisoner  by  the  savages,  yet  such  was 
his  vigilance  and  fearlessness,  that  he  escaped  from 

2 


246  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

their  grasp,  and  survived  all  the  perils  of  a  hunter's  life. 
Yet  this  haughty  lord  of  the  forest  fell  before  the 
"  sword  of  the  spirit  which  is  the  word  of  God."  He 
who  had  fled  from  the  face  of  civilization,  and  more 
than  once  moved  his  residence  to  avoid  coming  in 
contact  with  his  white  neighbors  who  were  settling 
around  him,  was  at  length  caught  in  the  Gospel  net, 
and  brought  a  willing  captive  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

About  this  time,  a  camp-meeting  was  held  in  his 
immediate  neighborhood.  Attracted  by  the  fame  of 
their  character,  and  wishing  to  gratify  a  laudable  curi 
osity,  Kenton  mingled  with  the  crowd  who  attended 
the  meeting,  and  listened  with  attention  to  the  ambas- 
sadors of  Christ.  Light  broke  in  upon  his  under- 
standing, and  conviction  penetrated  his  conscience. 
He  who  had  boldly  grappled  with  the  wild  beasts  of 
the  forest,  and  fearlessly  contended  with  ferocious  In- 
dians, was  now  seen  to  tremble  and  weep  under  the 
power  of  Gospel  truth.  After  laboring  some  time  in 
silence  under  the  pressure  of  that  guilt  which  he  now 
felt  preying  upon  his  spirits,  he  asked  and  obtained  an 
interview  with  the  preacher,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sale,  to 
whom  he  unbosomed  himself  in  the  following  strain  : — 

"  Sir,  I  wish  to  open  my  mind  to  you  freely,  but  must 
enjoin  the  most  profound  secrecy.  I  have  been  a  wretched 
sinner ;  but  the  Lord  has  spared  my  life.  I  have  been  in 
so  many  battles,  encountered  so  many  dangers,  so  many 
times  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians — have  run  the  gaunt- 
let— have  been  taken  into  the  woods  by  the  Indians,  strip- 
ped, and  tied  fast  on  the  back  of  a  wild  colt,  stretched  and 
lashed  fast  with  my  hands  under  its  flanks,  my  heels  under 
its  breast,  and  then  let  loose  to  the  mercy  of  the  wild  ani- 


1808 J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  247 

mal,  till  some  of  my  limbs  were  broken  ;  and  I  at  last  mi- 
raculously escaped.  I  have  been  wounded  so  often,  and 
encountered  various  other  difficulties  ;  but  after  a^'  have 
been  firm  to  my  purpose  and  unshaken  in  my  resol'f'^^^^s 
and  determinations.  And  now,  sir,  by  the  help  of  GoSf  I 
am  determined  to  get  religion  and  serve  the  Lord.  Do  you 
think,  sir,  I  will  ever  give  it  up  ?" 

After  an  interchange  of  some  thoughts  in  reference 
to  this  momentous  subject,  and  enjoining  secrecy  upon 
Mr.  Sale,  they  returned  to  the  encampment.  That 
night  the  general — for  such  was  his  title — was  in 
great  agony  of  mind,  and  was  earnestly  engaged  in 
seeking  for  redemption  in  the  blood  of  Christ.  The 
next  morning  he  was  heard  proclaiming  aloud  him- 
self, what  he  had  the  night  before  so  solemnly  request- 
ed to  be  kept  a  profound  secret.  He  was  declaring 
what  God  had  done  for  his  soul,  and  many  praised 
God  on  his  account. 

Such  a  change,  on  such  a  man,  could  not  but  have 
a  most  powerful  and  salutary  influence  on  the  minds 
of  others,  especially  as  his  subsequent  life  gave  irre- 
futable evidence  of  the  reality  of  the  work.  This 
is  given  as  one  specimen  among  hundreds  which 
might  be  selected,  in  proof  of  the  good  effects  of  these 
meetings. 

In  the  south-western  part  of  the  country  a  new  cir- 
cuit was  formed  along  the  banks  of  the  Tomhighee 
river,  by  the  labors  of  Matthew  P.  Sturdevant.  This 
being  a  new  and  thinly  settled  country,  the  preacher 
was  subjected  to  those  difficulties  and  hardships  which 
were  inseparable  from  the  mode  of  life  adopted  by  the 
Methodist  itinerants  of  those  days.  He  succeeded, 
however,  in  forming  a  circuit,  so  that  in  18  10  we  find, 


248  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

on  the  minutes  of  conference  for  Tombigbee,  eighty- 
six  members — seventy-one  whites,  and  fifteen  colored. 

Tyj-^New-England  the  work  of  God  had  slowly  pro- 
.t\iq  .sed  in  several  places,  and  this  year  Smithfield  and 
i  almyra  circuits  were  added  to  those  heretofore  form- 
ed. The  latter  was  in  the  Kennebeck  district,  much 
of  which  embraced  the  newly  settled  countries  in  the 
province  of  Maine.  Through  the  labors  of  such 
men  as  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Elijah  Hedding,  Joshua 
Soule,  Thomas  Branch,  John  Broadhead,  Elijah  R. 
Sabin,  and  Oliver  Beale,  who  were  this  year  the  pre- 
siding elders  in  the  New-England  conference,  Me- 
thodism was  gradually,  and  in  some  places  power- 
fully, advancing,  both  in  the  older  and  in  some  of  the 
new  settlements  in  the  New-England  states.  While 
Thomas  Branch  was  leading  forward  the  young  men 
under  his  care  in  the  regions  of  Vermont,  where  Me- 
thodism now  numbered  about  one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred members,  Elijah  Hedding  (now  bishop)  was 
equally  indefatigable  in  exploring  the  settlements  and 
villages  among  the  hills  and  valleys  of  New-Hamp- 
shire ;  and  the  province  of  Maine  was  blessed  with 
the  labors  of  Joshua  Soule  (now  bishop)  and  Oliver 
Beale,  whose  example  in  the  work  committed  to  their 
care,  stimulated  the  preachers  on  their  respective  dis- 
tricts to  activity  and  diligence  in  their  respective 
spheres  of  labor. 

But  among  those  whose  early  labors  were  devoted 
to  the  salvation  of  the  people  in  New-England,  we 
must  not  forget  to  mention  the  name  of  Rev.  George 
Pickering.  As  early  as  1795  we  find  him  stationed 
in  Hartford,  Connecticut ;  and,  after  filling  the  stations 
of  New-London,  Lynn,  and  Boston,  he  was  appointed 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  249 

a  presiding  elder  in  1797,  which  office  he  filled  for 
several  terms,  with  the  needful  intervening  years  in 
stations,  until  age  and  infirmities  obliged  him  to  inter- 
mit his  more  extensive  labors  for  those  better  suited 
to  his  declining  years. 

When  Mr.  Pickering  entered  this  field,  in  1793, 
there  was  but  one  district,  which  was  then  in  charge 
of  Jesse  Lee,  including  eighteen  circuits,  twenty-six 
preachers,  and  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty 
members.  At  the  time  of  which  we  are  now  speak- 
ing, there  were  six  districts,  fifty-four  circuit*?,  seven- 
ty-five preachers,  and  eight  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-five  church  members.  Mr.  Pickering, 
therefore,  may  be  said,  in  some  sense,  to  have  grown 
up  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  New- 
England,  as  he  very  soon  followed  Mr.  Lee,  and  has 
ever  since  shared  in  its  weal  or  wo,  during  all  the  vi- 
cissitudes through  which  it  has  passed  in  that  part  of 
our  work  ;  and  he  still  lives  to  labor  and  rejoice  with 
his  brethren.  And  though  the  above  number  may  ap- 
pear small  in  comparison  with  most  of  the  other  con 
ferences,  yet  it  must  be  remembered  that  Methodism 
in  that  country  had  to  contend  with  an  opposition 
of  a  peculiar  character,  arising  from  the  modes  of 
thinking  and  habits  cf  the  people  on  religious  sub- 
jects, and  also  that  other  churches  were,  in  many  in- 
stances, as  much  benefited  by  the  labors  of  the  Me- 
thodist ministry  as  were  the  Methodists  themselves. 
Here,  as  well  as  in  some  other  places,  many  who 
were  awakened  and  converted  to  God  by  our  minis 
try,  were  received  into  other  communions,  and  a  spirit 
of  reformation,  by  this  means,  was  diffused  among  the 
various  evangelical  denominations.  These  things  are 
11^  1 


250  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808 

mentioned  not  by  way  of  connplaint  against  others, 
but  merely  as  matters  of  fact,  for  we  rejoice  in  all 
that  the  Lord  our  God  has  done,  or  may  do,  by  what- 
ever instrumentality  he  may  see  fit  to  work. 

While  these  things  were  going  forward  in  the  more 
exterior  parts  of  the  field  of  labor,  God  was  not  un- 
mindful of  the  people  in  the  cities  and  villages  in  the 
older  states.  In  the  city  of  New-York,  the  work  of 
reformation  continued  with  encouraging  prosperity, 
and  many  were  made  partakers  of  the  "  grace  of  life." 
In  the  city  of  Philadelphia  also,  there  was  an  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  upon  the  congregations,  and  quite 
a  number  was  added  to  the  church.  Through  the 
agency  of  camp-meetings  many  parts  of  the  country 
were  blessed,  particularly  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Ma- 
ryland, where  hundreds  of  sinners  were  happily  con- 
verted to  God  ;  and  his  people  were  made  to  rejoice 
abundantly  in  beholding  these  manifest  displays  of 
the  mercy  and  love  of  God  toward  their  fellow-men, 
as  well  as  in  their  own  enjoyment  of  the  reviving  in- 
fluences of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

A  remarkable  work  of  God  commenced  this  year 
in  the  penitentiary  of  Richmond,  in  Virginia,  under  the 
faithful  labors  of  the  Rev.  Stith  Mead,  who  undertook 
to  carry  the  consolations  of  religion  to  those  unhappy 
people.  By  preaching  to  them  himself,  and  procuring 
the  help  of  other  ministers,  and  by  circulating  among 
them  small  religious  books,  their  minds  were  led  to 
consider  their  ways,  a  godly  sorrow  for  sin  was  awa- 
kened in  their  hearts,  and  they  were  directed  to  look 
by  faith  to  Jesus  Christ  for  pardon  and  salvation.  The 
result  of  this  good  work  was,  that  in  the  course  of  a 
few  months  about  thirty  of  these  prisoners  were  formed 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  251 

into  a  society,  furnishing  satisfactory  evidence  that  they 
had  "  passed  from  death  unto  life." 

Twenty-nine  preachers  were  located  this  year, 
seven  were  returned  supernumerary,  seven  superannu- 
ated, one  had  been  expelled,  and  two,  John  Richards'^ 

*  John  Richards  joined  the  Roman  Catholics.  When  the 
writer  of  this  history  was  stationed  in  Montreal  in  1807 — hav- 
ing been  changed  by  the  presiding  elder  from  Niagara  to  Mon- 
treal— Mr.  Richards  came  there  with  a  special  recommendation 
from  Bishop  Asbury  as  a  missionary.  He  was  received  with 
cordiality,  and  preached  in  our  house  with  acceptance,  and  gave 
great  satisfaction  to  the  people.  After  being  there  about  two 
weeks,  at  his  request  he  was  introduced  to  a  Catholic  priest  in 
Montreal,  and  afterward  visited  him  nearly  every  day,  without 
any  suspicion  being  entertained  of  an  intention  on  his  part  to 
leave  us.  At  length,  from  various  conversations  had  with  the 
writer  and  several  other  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  Mr.  Richards  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  Roman 
Church,  suspicions  became  rife  that  he  was  a  Catholic,  and 
great  anxiety  in  the  little  society  was  felt  on  his  account. 

Withm  a  few  days  after  this  became  public,  our  doubts  were 
all  dissipated  by  receiving  from  him  a  written  Protest  against  the 
Methodist  Societies,  as  a  "  continuation  of  an  ancient  heresy 
which  had  long  afflicted  the  church,"  declaring  that  he  with- 
drew all  connection  with  them,  but  that  he  should  carry  with 
him  "  into  the  bosom  of  the  holy  church  a  sincere  regard  for 
their  welfare,  and  prayers  for  their  salvation."  After  passing 
through  the  preliminary  steps,  he  became,  in  a  very  short  time, 
a  priest  in  the  Roman  Catholic  communion,  and  remains  such 
to  the  present  time.  The  reasons  for  this  step  remain  unex- 
plained, as  Mr.  R.  declined  giving  any  other  than  those  con- 
tained in  his  written  protest.  It  may,  however,  be  proper  to 
add,  that  Mr.  R.  was  born  and  reared  in  the  Romish  Church, 
and  received  an  education  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.  Here,  while 
a  youth,  he  was  professedly  awakened  and  converted  under 
the  Methodist  ministry,  joined  our  church,  and  entered  the  tra- 
veling connection  on  trial  in  the  Baltimore  conference,  in  the 
year  1804.  Whether  it  was  from  an  early  bias  in  favor  of 
Roman  Catholicism,  from  which  he  was   never  entirely  deliv- 

2 


2AI  A   HISTORV   OF    THE  [1808 

and  Dyer  Burge,  had  withdrawn.  George  Dougharty 
Bennet  Kendrick,  Henry  Willis,  and  Richard  Swain 
had  died. 

The  obituar}^  notices  of  preachers  now  began  to  be 
considerably  lengthened  in  the  published  minutes,  and 
as  all  can  have  recourse  to  these  for  information  respect- 
ing their  character,  labors,  and  deaths,  I  must,  to  make 
room  for  other  matters  more  essentially  connected 
with  the  history  of  the  Church,  continue  to  omit, 
or  modify  these,  as  the  nature  of  the  case  may 
seem  to  require. 

Of  George  Dougharty  we  have  already  spoken  in 
the  account  of  the  work  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  It  is 
stated  that  his  character  stood  exceedingly  high  in  his 
conference,  both  as  a  preacher  and  a  presiding  elder, 
furnishing  the  most  indubitable  evidence  of  his  readi- 
ness and  qualification  to  fill  with  dignity  and  useful- 
ness any  department  of  the  work  to  which  he  might 
be  called.  After  filling  the  stations  allotted  him  in  the 
church  with  great  fidelity,  and  discharging  the  duties 
of  his  office  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  move,  he 
manifested  his  courage  in  the  cause  of  God,  by  bring- 
ing forward  a  resolution  in  the  last  conference  he  at- 
tended, in  1807,  declaring  "  that  if  any  preacher  should 
desert  his  station  through  fear,  in  time  of  sickness  or 
danger,  the  conference  should  never  employ  that  man 
again." 

ered,  or  from  a  supposed  conviction  of  the  truth  of  its  doctrine 
and  usages,  and  a  belief  that  he  could,  by  entering  that  com- 
munion, become  more  extensively  useful,  are  questions  which 
are  left  to  be  solved  in  that  day  which  shall  disclose  the  secrets 
of  all  hearts.  So  far  as  is  known  to  the  writer,  Mr.  Richards 
has  maintained  a  reputable  standing  in  the  church  to  which  ho 
attached  himself. 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  253 

It  is  said  that  he  sustained  this  resolution,  how- 
ever rigid  it  may  appear,  with  such  force  and  energy 
of  argument,  that  he  carried  his  cause,  and  thus,  hke 
a  general  who  dies  in  the  arms  of  victory,  he  triumph- 
ed in  this  last  public  act  of  his  life  over  all  opposition. 

His  last  sufferings  were  indescribably  severe  ;  but 
he  bore  them  with  that  meek  submission  to  the  divine 
will  by  which  he  had  ever  been  distinguished  during 
his  active  life;  and  on  the  23d  day  of  March,  1807, 
he  took  his  departure  from  a  world  of  labor  and  suf- 
fering, to  a  land  of  rest  and  joy,  after  having  devoted 
the  last  nine  years  of  his  life  to  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary. 

His  abilities  as  a  preacher  were  of  a  high  order, 
and  they  were  guided  in  their  exercise  by  that  wis- 
dom and  prudence,  and  attended  by  that  "  unction 
from  the  Holy  One,"  which  made  them  subservient  to 
the  advancement  of  the  cause  and  interests  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Whenever  he  spoke  in  the  name  of  God,  he 
most  evidently  spoke  of  what  he  knew  and  felt,  and 
not  merely  from  a  speculative  knowledge  of  the 
truths  of  God.  And  hence  his  word  was  in  "  power, 
and  in  much  assurance,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost," — 
the  hearts  of  God's  people  vibrating  to  the  truths  he 
uttered,  while  sinners  were  made  to  feel  that  they 
stood  in  the  presence  of  a  man  commissioned  of  "  God 
to  show  unto  them  the  way  of  salvation." 

The  life  of  such  a  man  is  an  expressive  comment 
upon  the  gospel  he  preaches,  and  his  death  a  power 
ful  attestation  to  its  truth  and  excellence.  He  indeed, 
while  struggling  in  the  arms  of  death,  and  in  full  view 
of  eternity,  said  with  holy  triumph,  "  The  goodness 
and  love  of  God  to  me  are  great  and  marvellous,  as  I 

2 


254  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1808. 

go  down  the  declivity  of  death."  And  so  unclouded 
was  his  understanding  and  tranquil  his  spirit  in  the 
hour  of  his  dissolution,  that  his  true  greatness  was 
never  before  so  fully  appreciated  by  his  friends. 

Henry  Willis  was  also  a  "  burning  and  a  shining 
light."  He  was  naturally  of  a  strong  mind,  and  this 
he  diligently  improved  by  an  assiduous  application  to 
reading  and  observation.  After  he  became  so  debili- 
tated that  he  was  not  able  to  devote  himself  exclu- 
sively to  the  traveling  ministry,  considering  that  his 
call  to  this  work  was  from  God,  he  did  not  dare  de- 
sist from  doing  all  he  could,  while  he  so  applied  him- 
self to  temporal  business  as  not  to  be  dependent  on 
the  church  for  a  support.  Systematic  in  all  his  move- 
ments, zealous  in  whatever  he  undertook  to  do,  and 
uniform  in  his  obedience  to  the  commands  of  God,  he 
accomplished  much  in  a  short  time,  and  with  compara- 
tively slender  means.  In  the  various  relations  he  sus- 
tained, whether  as  a  son,  a  husband,  a  father,  or  a 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  he  exemplified  the  duties 
originating  from  them,  thus  giving  evidence  that  real 
religion  has  its  appropriate  duties,  and  that  all  could 
be  discharged  without  interfering  one  with  another. 

He  commenced  his  ministry  in  1779,  and  from 
that  time  forth  filled  some  of  the  most  important  sta- 
tions in  the  Church,  in  the  states  of  South  and  North 
Carolina,  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  New- 
York,  and  in  the  new  countries  west  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains  ;  and  he  continued  his  exertions  in  the  cause 
of  God  until  1795,  when,  being  worn  down  with  la- 
bor, he  received  a  supernumerary  relation,  and  was 
stationed  in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  This  relation  he 
lield  from  this  time  until  the  day  of  his  death,  labor- 
2 


1808.  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURClT.  255 

ing,  as  before  said,  with  his  own  hands,  that  he  "  might 
be  chargeable  to  none,"  for  the  support  of  himself  and 
family.  He  was  everywhere  received  as  a  messen- 
ger of  God,  and  was  long  remembered  by  those  who 
sat  under  his  ministry,  with  most  affectionate  venera- 
tion, as  having  been  an  instrument  of  lasting  benefit  to 
their  souls.  The  record  of  his  death,  which  states  that 
he  died  with  a  triumphant  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  calls 
him  a  "  great  man  of  God,"  an  appellation  which 
shows  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by 
those  best  capable  of  appreciating  his  worth. 

He  died  early  in  the  year  1808,  in  the  full  hope 
of  "  immortality  and  eternal  life,"  leaving  behind  him, 
as  the  most  valuable  legacy  which  a  father  can  be- 
queath to  his  children  or  a  minister  to  the  church,  a 
"good  name" — the  remembrance  of  which  "is  as 
precious  ointment  poured  forth." 

Of  Bennet  Kendrick  excellent  things  are  said,  as 
well  as  of  Richard  Swaim.  They  were  both  faithful 
and  successful  in  their  ministry,  and  died  the  peace- 
ful death  of  the  righteous. 

The  following  account  of  Captain  Thomas  Webb, 
which  should  have  appeared  under  date  of  1796,  was 
inadvertenlly  omitted  until  those  pages  were  printed 
off.  But  as  he  w^as  one  of  the  two  first  Methodist 
preachers  who  came  to  America,  he  deserves  a  re- 
spectful notice  among  the  worthies  of  that  chivalrous 
age  of  Methodism  when  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and 
of  Wesley  was  so  successfully  wielded  in  conquering 
souls  to  Jesus  Christ. 

It  has  indeed  been  affirmed  by  some,  that  Capt. 
Webb  was  the  founder  of  Methodism  in  New-York  ; 
but  this,  I  am  confident,  is  a  mistake,  as  I  took  much 

2 


256  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1808. 

pains  to  asceftain  ihc  facts  in  relation  to  the  society 
in  this  city,  and  received  them  from  the  lips  of  per- 
sons who  had  a  personal  knowledge  and  perfect  recol- 
lection of  all  the  circumstances  as  they  are  related  in 
the  second  chapter  of  the  first  volume  of  this  work. 

Nevertheless,  Capt.  Webb  contributed  much  by  his 
prayers,  preaching,  and  example,  to  build  up  the  cause 
of  God,  to  increase  the  number,  and  to  strengthen 
the  hearts  and  hands  of  the  society  in  the  city  of 
New-York. 

He  was  a  soldier  of  the  British  army,  and  was 
with  Gen.  Wolfe  at  the  conquest  of  Quebec  in  1758, 
and  during  the  engagement  on  the  plains  of  Abraham, 
under  the  walls  of  the  city,  he  received  a  wound  in 
his  arm  and  lost  his  right  eye,  on  account  of  which 
he  ever  after  wore  a  bandage  over  that  part  of  liis 
head,  as  may  be  seen  by  an  inspection  of  the  likeness 
which  accompanies  this  volume.  At  this  time,  the 
fear  of  God  was  not  before  his  eyes  ;  but  on  his  re- 
turn to  England,  in  the  year  1764,  he  was  brought 
to  see  himself  a  sinner  through  the  preaching  of  Mr. 
Wesley  in  the  city  of  Bristol.  He  then  became  ac- 
quainted with  an  evangelical  minister  of  the  establish- 
ment, and  through  him  with  the  Methodists,  with  whom 
he  soon  after  united  himself,  and  found  the  "  pearl  of 
great  price." 

Having  his  heart  fired  with  love  to  God  and  his  fel- 
low-men, he  began  to  entreat  them  to  "  flee  the  wrath 
to  come,"  and  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ  to  the  saving 
of  their  souls.  In  his  first  appearance  in  public  as  a 
preacher,  which  was  in  the  city  of  Bath,  in  England, 
he  dwelt  chiefly  on  his  own  experience  of  divine 
things  ;  but  the  people  who  heard  him  were  edified 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  257 

and  refreshed  under  his  pubhc  exercises,  which  great- 
ly encouraged  him  to  persevere  in  this  labor  of  love 

Not  long  after  this,  in  the  year  1765  or  1766,  he 
was  appointed  barrack-master  of  Albany,  in  the  colony 
of  New-York.  Here  he  set  up  family  prayer  in  his 
own  house,  which  some  of  his  neighbors  frequently 
attended,  to  whom  he  gave  a  word  of  exhortation  and 
advice.  The  blessing  of  God  attending  these  incipient 
efforts  to  do  good,  he  was  induced  to  extend  his  la- 
bors, and  he  began  holding  meetings  among  his  fellow- 
soldiers  and  others  who  wished  to  attend. 

After  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Embury  and  his  associates 
in  New-York,  Capt.  Webb^  hearing  of  their  having 
begun  to  hold  meetings,  paid  them  a  visit.  His  first 
appearance  among  them  was  in  the  public  assembly, 
and  as  he  wore  the  uniform  of  a  British  captain,  the 
little  society  were  fearful  at  first,  that  he  had  come  to 
*'  spy  out  their  liberties  in  Christ ;"  but,  as  already 
related  in  the  account  given  of  the  rise  of  this  society, 
when  they  saw  him  kneel  in  prayer  and  devoutly  par- 
ticipate with  them  in  their  acts  of  devotion,  their  fears 
were  exchanged  for  joy,  and  they  hailed  "  him  as  a 
brother  beloved."  He  was  therefore  soon  invited  to 
preach,  which  he  did  with  great  energy  and  accept- 
ance. His  appearance  in  the  pulpit  in  the  costume  of 
a  military  officer,  with  his  sword  either  lying  by  his 
side  or  swinging  in  its  scabbard,  was  a  novelty  that 
attracted  much  attention  and  excited  no  little  surprise 
among  the  citizens  who  attended  the  meetings.  His 
preaching,  however,  was  in  demonstration  and  power, 
and  he  generally  related  his  own  experience  as  an 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  his  doctrine  respecting  experi- 
mental  religion.       But    his    experience    being    very 

2 


258  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1808. 

deep,  as  he  had  a  severe  struggle  while  passing  from 
death  to  life,  and  also  obtained  an  unclouded  witness 
of  his  acceptance  in  the  Beloved,  it  is  stated  by  those 
who  heard  him  in  those  days,  that  he  always  took 
care  to  guard  weak  believers  against  "  casting  away 
their  confidence,"  because  they  could  not  realize  the 
same  bright  testimony  of  their  justification  by  faith  in 
Christ  with  which  he  had  been  so  highly  favored. 

He  did  not,  however,  confine  his  labors  to  New- 
York  and  Albany.  The  records  of  those  days  repre- 
sent him  as  visiting  Philadelphia  and  Long  Island, 
where  he  preached  with  success,  the  Lord  setting  his 
seal  to  the  words  of  his  servant.  He  was,  indeed, 
mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  and  very  pointed  in  his  ap- 
peals to  the  consciences  of  unconverted  sinners  ;  and 
the  result  proved  that  the  Spirit  of  God  accompanied 
his  energetic  labors,  to  the  awakening  and  conversion 
of  souls. 

How  long  he  remained  in  America  I  cannot  tell  ; 
but  in  1772  we  find  from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Wesley,  that 
he  was  in  Dublin  in  Ireland,  and  Mr.  Wesley  says  of 
him,  "  he  is  a  man  of  fire,  and  the  power  of  God  con- 
stantly accompanies  his  word."  In  1773  Mr.  Wesley 
speaks  of  his  preaching  at  the  Foundry  in  London, 
and  says,  "  I  admire  the  wisdom  of  God  in  still  raising 
up  various  preachers,  according  to  the  various  tastes 
of  men.  The  captain  is  all  life  and  fire ;  there- 
fore, although  he  is  not  deep  or  regular,  yet  many, 
who  would  not  hear  a  better  preacher,  flock  together 
to  hear  him.  And  many  are  convinced  under  his 
preaching ;  some  justified  ;  a  few  built  up  in  love." 
Ten  years  after  this  he  speaks  of  Capt.  Webb's 
having  "  lately  kindled  a  flame  here,"  (in  the  neigh- 
2 


1808.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  259 

borhood  of  Bath,)  "  and  it  is  not  yet  gone  out.  Seve- 
ral persons  were  still  rejoicing  in  God.  1  found  his 
preaching  in  the  street  of  Winchester  had  been  bless- 
ed greatly.  Many  were  more  or  less  convinced  of 
sin,  and  several  had  found  peace  with  God.  I  never 
saw  the  house  before  so  crowded  with  serious  and 
attentive  hearers."  In  1785  he  bears  a  similar  tes- 
timony to  his  usefulness,  in  kindling  up  the  fire  of 
devotion  among  the  people. 

From  these  testimonies  it  appears  that  Capt.  Webb 
retained  his  piety  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  God, 
although  Charles  Wesley,  whose  charity  was  some- 
times a  little  cramped  by  his  high  notions  of  Church 
order,  said,  in  a  letter  to  Joseph  Benson,  that  the 
captain  was  "  an  inexperienced,  honest,  zealous,  loving 
enthusiast."  His  enthusiasm  was  that  of  a  warm-heart- 
ed, "  zealous,  honest,  and  loving"  servant  of  God, 
whose  powers  were  devoted  to  the  highest  interests 
of  mankind, — although  we  may  allow  that  he  lacked 
that  extensive  knowledge  which  is  acquired  only  by 
a  laborious  application  to  study. 

His  death  is  said  to  have  been  sudden.  Having  a 
presentiment  of  his  approaching  dissolution,  a  few 
days  before  his  death  he  expressed  his  wishes  to  a 
friend  respecting  the  place  and  manner  of  his  inter- 
ment, adding, — "  I  should  prefer  a  triumphant  death  ; 
but  I  may  be  taken  away  suddenly.  However,  I 
know  I  am  happy  in  the  Lord,  and  shall  be  with 
him,  and  that  is  sufficient."  A  little  after  10  o'clock, 
on  the  20 ih  of  December,  1796,  after  taking  his  sup- 
per and' praying  with  his  family,  he  went  to  his  bed 
in  apparent  good  health  ;  but  shortly  his  breathing 
became  difficult ;  he  arose  and  sat  at  the  foot  of  the 

2 


260  A   HISTORY   OF   THT!  [1808. 

bed ;  but  while  Mrs.  Webb  was  standing  by  him,  he 
fell  back  on  the  bed,  and  before  any  other  person 
could  be  called,  he  sunk  into  the  arms  of  death  with- 
out any  apparent  pain,  aged  72  years. 

It  is  matter  of  gratitude  to  God  that  Capt.  Webb, 
as  well  as  Mr.  Embury,  "  held  fast  his  confidence 
steadfast  unto  the  end,"  and  therefore  "  received  the 
full  reward"  of  his  labors.  Mr.  Embury,  after  labor- 
ing successfully  in  the  cause  of  Christ  in  New- York, 
removed  to  Ashgrove,  where  he  ended  his  days  in  the 
service  of  his  God,  and  where  he  lies  entombed,  min- 
gling his  ashes  with  his  relatives  who  have  followed 
him  to  the  grave,  waiting  for  the  "  final  doom,"  when 
the  trump  of  God  shall  awaken  him  to  life  and  im- 
mortality. Capt.  Webb,  after  "  sowing  the  good 
seed  of  the  kingdom"  in  various  places  in  this  coun- 
try, returned  to  Europe,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days  in  "  kindling  the  fire"  of  divine  love  in  the 
hearts  of  God's  people,  in  warning  sinners  of  their 
impending  danger,  and  pointing  penitent  mourners  to 
the  "  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world."  While  therefore  the  one  shall  arise  at  the 
*'  voice  of  the  Son  of  God"  from  his  "  dusty  bed"  in 
America,  and  receive  the  plaudits  of  those  of  her  sons 
and  daughters  who  were  brought  to  God  by  his  min- 
istry, the  other  shall  come  forth  in  obedience  to  the 
same  mandate  from  his  resting-place  in  England, 
and  hail  each  other  blessed  amid  the  shouts  of  the  re- 
deemed, while  all,  whether  white  or  black,  whether 
from  the  eastern  or  western  continent,  shall  unitedly, 
and  with  one  voice,  ascribe  the  glory  of  their  sal- 
vation TO  God  and  the  Lamb  for  ever. 

In  the  meanwhile,  were  the  happy  spirits  of  these- 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  261 

individuals,  so  obscure  in  their  life  time,  and  by  some 
considered  as  merely  "  honest  and  loving  enthusi- 
asts," permitted  to  look  down  on  this  American  con- 
tinent, and  behold  the  thousands  which  have  been 
"  taken  out  of  the  horrible  pit  and  miry  clay,"  and 
had  "  their  robes  washed  and  made  white  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb,"  since  they  commenced  their  humble 
efforts  in  the  city  of  New-York,  w^ould  not  their  souls 
exult  in  praises  to  God  and  the  Lamb  for  having  re- 
deemed them  from  the  earth,  and  placed  them  among 
the  princes  of  his  people  ! 

Captain  Webb  was  no  doubt  somewhat  eccentric  m 
his  movements,  limited  in  his  knowledge,  and  of  mode- 
rate talents  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel ;  but,  from  the 
testimony  of  Mr.  Wesley  and  others  who  knew  him 
well,  his  soul  was  fired  with  an  ardent  zeal  for  God, 
and  was  drawn  out  with  an  unquenchable  thirst  for 
the  salvation  of  his  fellow-men,  and  the  building  up 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  As  such,  God  honored 
him  with  his  blessing — and  as  such  we  honor  his 
memory,  and  record  this  feeble  tribute  of  respe*ct  to 
him,  as  one  of  the  first  Wesleyan  preachers  who  pub 
lished  the  gospel  on  these  American  shores. 

Numbers  of  Chwch  ?nembers. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.        Preachers. 

This  year  121,687  30,308  151,995  540 
Last  year         114,727      29,863      144,591         516 

Increase  6,960  445  7,405  24 

1809.  The  same  number  of  conferences  was  held 
this  y?ar  as  last,  and  they  were  attended  by  the  two 
bishops  in  the  usual  manner. 

Several  new  circuits  were  added  within  the  bounds 

2 


262  A   HISTORY   OF  THE  [1809. 

of  llie  Western  conference,  by  which  the  work  in 
that  country  was  considerably  enlarged.  And,  in 
addition  to  the  sketches  which  have  already  been 
given  of  the  commencement  and  progress  of  Method- 
ism in  Ohio,  may  be  added  the  following,  taken  chiefly 
from  the  narrative  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  who  was 
among  the  first  who  carried  the  gospel  into  some  por- 
tions of  the  country  bordering  upon  the  Ohio,  and 
lying  between  the  Big  and  Little  Miami  rivers,  and  the 
Sciota  river. 

It  seems  that  as  early  as  1799  Mr.  Smith  visited 
the  settlements  along  the  banks  of  the  Miami  river, 
including  the  Miami  and  Sciota  counties,  and  being 
assisted  by  Mr.  Hunt,  formed  a  six  weeks'  circuit, 
which  they  traveled  with  no  small  difficulty.  He 
found  the  country  thinly  inhabited,  but  among  those 
who  had  settled  there,  were  a  number  who  had  been 
Methodists  in  the  countries  whence  they  came,  some 
retaining  their  piety,  and  others  in  a  backslidden 
state.  On  the  Scioto  Bush  creek,  and  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Scioto  river,  he  found  several  Methodist  fami- 
lies, among  the  latter  of  whom  w^as  a  local  preacher 

bv  the  name  of  William  Jackson.      Here  he  formed 

■J 

a  class. 

Over  this  country,  along  the  banks  of  the  Miamis 
and  their  tributary  streams,  he  traveled,  often  ex- 
posed to  hardships  and  privations  which  few  could 
well  endure,  but  was  abundantly  compensated  by  a 
consciousness  of  the  divine  approbation,  and  by  wit- 
nessing the  blessing  of  God  on  his  labors.  Many 
sinners  were  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  by 
his  agency,  who  afterward  brought  forth  the  fruits  of 
righteousness  to  the  glory  of  God. 
2 


i809j  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  263 

From  this  time,  as  we  have  already  seen,  the  work 
continued  to  spread  in  various  directions,  until  the  time 
of  which  we  now  speak,  when  Miami  was  the  district  of 
a  presiding  elder,  with  six  circuits,  employing  thirteen 
preachers,  including  the  presiding  elder ;  and  in  1810 
there  were  four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty^four 
members  in  the  Church. 

Though  we  had  no  Missionary  Society  at  that  time, 
nor  consequently  any  funds  for  the  support  of  those 
who  went  into  the  new  settlements,  yet  Bishop  As- 
bury  was  in  the  habit,  as  he  passed  through  the  more 
wealthy  portions  of  the  work,  of  soliciting  donations 
from  benevolent  individuals  for  the  purpose  of  sus- 
taining those  who  might  volunteer  their  services  to 
"  break  up  new  ground,"  as  it  was  then  not  unaptly 
called.  And  this  year  we  find  Robert  Cloud  attached 
as  a  missionary  to  the  Muskingum  district,  James  H. 
Mellard  to  the  Seleuda  district,  to  labor  between  the 
Ashley  and  Savannah  rivers,  and  James  E.  Glenn  to 
the  Camden  district,  to  occupy  the  country  between 
Santee  and  Cooper  rivers.  By  this  means,  the  gospel 
was  sent  to  these  destitute  settlements,  *' without  money 
and  without  price."  William  Case  was  also  sent  as 
a  missionary  to  Detroit  in  the  Michigan  territory  ; 
and  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  the  gospel  at 
the  Three  rivers  in  Lower  Canada,  a  place  about 
midway  between  Montreal  and  Quebec. 

A  new  circuit  was  formed  this  year  in  the  bounds 
of  the  western  conference,  called  Cold  Wate?',  Upper 
Louisiana,  in  the  fork  of  the  Mississippi,  by  the 
labors  of  J^n  Crane,  a  young  man  of  precocious 
genius,  and  remarkable  for  the  early  exhibitions  of 
talent  and  piety,  and  those  powers  of  pulpit  oratory 

3 


264  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1809. 

which  attract  the  attention  of  the  multitude.  In  this 
new  country  he  had  a  full  opportunity  for  the  exer- 
cise of  all  his  energies  in  contending  with  hardships, 
in  combating  the  errors  and  prejudices  of  the  people, 
and  in  striving  to  establish  societies  in  the  pure  doc- 
trines of  Christ.  He  succeeded  so  far  as  to  return  the 
next  year  seventy-five  members  of  the  Church  as  the 
fruits  of  his  ministry.  He  was  reappointed  in  1810 
to  the  same  field  of  labor,  with  the  Missouri  circuit 
added  to  Cold  Water,  which  made  his  rides  long,  and 
the  more  difficult,  for  want  of  roads  and  bridges, 
as  he  was  frequently  obliged  to  swim  his  horse  over 
the  Missouri  river  in  passing  from  one  appointment  to 
another — a  practice  by  no  means  uncommon  in  those 
days,  when  the  forests  were  falling  beneath  the  strokes 
of  the  woodsman's  axe,  and  the  traveler  was  wending 
his  way  by  Indian  tracks,  or  merely  guided  by  marked 
trees. 

In  addition  to  this  enlargement  of  the  field  of  labor 
in  the  exterior  settlements,  prosperity  attended  the 
efforts  of  God's  servants  in  various  portions  of  the 
work,  in  the  older  countries,  and  in  several  of  the 
principal  cities. 

The  brethren  in  Boston  had  suffered  much  incon- 
venience on  account  of  the  smallness  of  their  house 
of  worship.  To  remedy  this  inconvenience,  they  had 
commenced  a  larger  house  in  Bloomfield  lane,  some 
two  or  three  years  before  ;  but  as  the  members  of  the 
society  were  comparatively  poor,  they  found  them- 
selves embarrassed  with  a  heavy  debt,  which  they 
were  unable  to  pay.  To  relieve  thei^  from  this 
pressure,  the  General  Conference  of  1808  had  au- 
thorized a  general  subscription  to  be  taken  among  the 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  265 

more  wealthy  societies,  by  which  they  were  enabled 
to  pay  off  a  portion  of  their  debt,  and  thus  to  accom- 
modate the  people  who  wished  to  attend  the  Method- 
ist ministry.  This  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  cause 
in  that  city,  and  it  has  steadily  progressed  from  that 
time  with  more  encouraging  success  than  heretofore. 

The  camp-meetings  continued  to  be  held  more 
generally  than  ever,  and  were  owned  of  God  to  the 
awakening  and  conversion  of  sinners,  and  tended  much 
to  quicken  the  people  of  God  in  their  own  souls,  and 
to  stimulate  them  to  more  vigorous  exertions  for  the 
salvation  of  others.  And  as  this  history  may  be  read 
by  some  who  have  never  attended  these  meetings,  it 
may  not  be  out  of  place  to  give  a  description  of  the 
manner  in  which  they^are  attended. 

We  have  already  seen  that  they  were  introduced 
casually,  or  it  may  be  more  proper  to  say,  providen- 
tially, in  the  western  country,  at  a  sacramental  occa- 
sion, when  such  a  number  of  people  attended  that  no 
house  could  be  found  large  enough  to  accommodate 
them.  The  good  effects  resulting  from  these  meet- 
ings soon  led  to  a  regular  method  of  holding  them  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  by  previous  appointment 
and  preparation.  For  this  purpose,  a  grove  is  gene- 
rally selected,  in  the  neighborhood  of  good  water,  and, 
if  possible,  in  such  a  place  that  the  people  may  go  by 
water,  in  sloops  or  steam-boats.  The  under-brush  is 
cleared  away,  seats  of  boards  or  plank  and  a  stand  for 
the  preachers  are  prepared  in  convenient  order.  On 
the  ground  thus  prepared  tents  are  erected,  from  twenty 
to  two  hundred  in  number,  of  different  sizes  and  ma- 
terial, some  of  cloth  and  some  of  boards,  but  more 
generally  of  the  former.      These   temporary  shelters 

Vol.  II.— 12 


B66  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1809. 

are  of  various  sizes,  some  for  single  families,  and 
some  sufficiently  large  to  hold  from  twenty  to  fifty, 
and  perhaps  a  hundred  individuals,  and  others,  for  the 
accommodation  of  such  as  choose  it,  are  for  boarding- 
tents. 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  people  are  seen  assem- 
bling from  various  directions,  some  in  carriages  or 
wagons  from  the  country,  and  a  multitude  of  others 
from  the  cities  and  villages  along  the  water  courses, 
in  sloops  or  steamboats,  with  their  bedding,  cooking 
utensils  and  provisions  ;  for  the  meeting  generally 
continues  four  or  five  days,  and  in  some  instances 
eight  or  nine  days.  These  all  repair  to  their  places, 
and,  if  not  already  done  for  them,  erect  their  tents,  and 
prepare  for  the  solemn  exercises  of  the  meeting. 

The  tents  are  generally  arranged  in  a  circular  form 
in  front  of  the  stand,  and  in  those  held  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  city  of  New-York,  with  which  I  am 
best  acquainted,  the  rows  of  tents  are  from  three  to 
six  deep,  and  arranged  on  several  streets,  numbered 
and  labelled,  so  that  they  may  be  distinguished  one 
from  another,  and  passed  between.  The  fires  for 
cooking  are  in  general  behind  the  tents,  so  that  the 
people  may  not  be  discommoded  with  the  smoke,  &c. 

Lamps  are  prepared,  and  suspended  on  the  trunks  of 
the  trees,  and  -on  the  preachers'  stand,  in  sufficient  num- 
ber to  illuminate  the  entire  encampment,  and  each  tent 
must  have  a  light  burning  in  it  through  the  night, 
and  the  utmost  pains  are  taken  to  see  that  no  disor- 
derly conduct  be  allowed  on  the  ground  by  either 
night  or  day.  The  rules  and  orders  of  the  meeting 
are  generally  as  follows,  varying  so  as  to  suit  differ- 
ent circumstances : — 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  267 

1.  The  times  of  preaching  are  10  o'clock,  A.  M., 
and  3  and  7  o'clock,  P.  M.,  notice  of  which  is  given 
by  the  sound  of  a  trumpet  or  horn  at  the  preachers' 
stand. 

2.  The  intermediate  time  between  preaching  is  oc- 
cupied in  prayer  meetings,  singing,  and  exhortation. 

3.  In  time  of  worship  persons  are  prohibited  from 
walking  to  and  fro,  talking,  smoking,  or  otherwise  dis- 
turbing the  solemnities  of  the  meeting. 

4.  All  are  required,  except  on  the  last  night  of  the 
meeting,  to  be  in  their  tents  at  10  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and 
to  arise  at  5,  A.  M. 

5.  At  6  o'clock,  A.  M.,  they  are  required  to  take 
their  breakfast,  before  which  family  prayer  is  attended 
in  each  tent  occupied  by  a  family, 

6.  In  time  of  preaching  all  are  required  to  attend, 
except  one  to  take  care  of  the  tent. 

7.  That  these  rules  may  be  observed,  they  are 
published  from  the  stand,  and  a  committee  appointed 
to  enforce  them. 

8.  A  watch  is  generally  appointed  to  superintend 
the  encampment  at  night,  to  keep  order,  to  see  that 
no  stragglers  are  on  the  ground,  and  to  detect  any 
disorderly  conduct. 

9.  In  some  places  there  are  large  tents  provided, 
at  the  expense  of  the  society  to  which  they  belong, 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  prayer-meetings,  more  par- 
ticularly in  the  evening,  or  in  rainy  weather. 

10.  In  the  city  of  New-York  the  entire  arrange- 
ment and  preparation  of  the  meeting,  providing  tents, 
putting  them  up  and  taking  them  down,  is  under  the 
superintendence  of  a  committee  appointed  for  that 
purpose  by  the   presiding  elder  of  the  district,  who 


A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1809. 

also  procure  the  steamboat  to  lake  tlie  people  to  and 
from  the  meeting  ;  and  each  person  who  chooses  to 
go  pays  a  certain  amount,  commonly  about  one  dollar, 
for  passage,  use  of  tent,  fuel,  straw,  &c. 

This  is  a  general  description  of  a  camp-meetmg. 
The  number  attending  varies  from  five  hundred  to  ten 
thousand — and,  as  we  have  before  seen,  when  they 
were  first  introduced  in  the  west,  to  twenty  thousand — 
in  proportion  to  the  paucity  or  density  of  the  popula- 
tion. That  good  has  resulted  from  these  meetings 
must  be  evident  to  every  impartial  person  who  has 
either  attended  them  or  witnessed  their  effects — al- 
though it  must  be  admitted  that  some  accidental  evils 
have  flowed  from  them.  But  these  have  originated 
chiefly  from  the  attendance  of  persons  who  have  gone 
for  other  purposes  than  to  worship  God.  Though 
most  of  the  state  legislatures  have  passed  laws  to 
protect  the  free  exercise  of  religious  meetings,  and 
some  to  protect  camp-meetings  in  particular,  yet 
there  are  those  in  the  community  who,  actuated  by 
mercenary  motives,  will  go  and  set  up  hucksters* 
shops,  sell  strong  liquors  and  other  things,  and  then 
invite  the  thoughtless  rabble  to  convene  for  convivial 
purposes,  to  the  annoyance  of  the  peaceable  worship- 
ers of  God.  These  have  often  created  disturbances, 
and  they  always,  when  arranged  along  the  road  lead- 
ing to  the  encampment,  present  a  spectacle  to  the 
sober  mind  of  a  disgusting  character.  But  they  who 
provide  those  things  and  partake  of  them,  are  alone 
responsible  for  the  evils  which  they  create.  Neither 
camp-meetings  nor  those  who  attend  them  for  religious 
purposes  are  accountable  for  the  disorderly  conduct 
of  those  who,  in  defiance  of  law,  of  religion,  and  de- 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  269 

cency,  \iolate  the  order  of  the  meeting,  and  bring  on 
themselves  the  disgrace  of  being  disturbers  of  the 
peace.  For  such  conduct  the  friends  of  camp-meet- 
ings are  no  more  responsible  than  the  builders  of 
churches  and  those  who  peaceably  worship  God  in 
them,  are  accountable  for  any  disturbance  which  a 
wicked  rabble  may  make  within,  or  for  the  conduct 
of  a  riotous  mob  without  these  sacred  temples. 

Were  all  who  come  within  the  encampment,  or  who 
go  to  the  meeting,  to  observe  the  order  prescribed,  there 
need  be  no  more  disorder  than  there  should  be  in  a 
house  of  worship. 

It  has  been  objected  that  professors  of  religion 
themselves  often  violate  the  rules  of  religious  order  by 
unseemly  gesticulations  and  boisterous  exclamations. 
It  may,  indeed,  be  so — and  we  no  more  justify  these 
things  than  we  do  the  same  exceptionable  conduct  in 
other  places — ^but  there  is  nothing  in  the  time,  the 
place,  or  the  object  of  coming  together,  which  need 
excite  these  censurable  manifestations,  more  than  in 
any  other  place  of  worship.  "  Let  all  things  be  done 
decently  and  in  order"  at  camp-meetings,  and  they 
shall  still  be  rendered  a  blessing,  as  they  have  here- 
tofore been,  to  the  souls  of  the  people.  There  is 
greater  danger  at  present  arising  from  their  degene- 
rating into  seasons  of  idle  recreation,  than  of  their 
being  abused  by  ranting  fanaticism.  In  the  neigh- 
borhood of  large  cities,  where  the  meetings  are  easy 
of  access  by  steamboats,  which  ply  constantly  to  and 
from  the  encampment,  there  is  an  alluring  temptation 
for  the  idle  and  the  gay,  as  well  as  for  the  luke-warm 
professors  of  religion,  to  go  to  the  meetings  as  mere 
matters  of  amusement,  and  thus  to  make  the  nominal 

2 


270  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [18d9. 

service  of  God  a  pretext  to  gratify  a  roving  and  in- 
quisitive disposition.  Whenever  these  and  similar 
evils  shall  threaten  to  counterbalance  the  good,  the 
friends  of  pure  religion  will  either  apply  the  corrective 
or  abandon  camp-meetings  as  a  nuisance  or  as  a 
means  susceptible  of  an  incurable  abuse.  But  while 
they  are  kept  under  the  control  of  a  sober  judgment, 
and  attended  from  a  pure  desire  to  advance  the  cause 
of  Christ,  they  will  be  patronised  by  the  pious  as  one 
of  the  prudential  means  of  effecting  the  salvation  of 
men. 

I  know  not  that  I  can  furnish  the  reader  with  a 
juster  idea  of  a  well  conducted  camp-meeting,  than 
by  inserting  the  following  account  of  one  held  at 
Cowharbor,  Long  Island,  in  the  state  of  New-York, 
August  11,  1818.  It  was  written  indeed  under  the 
impulse  of  those  vivid  sensations  which  were  pro- 
duced by  a  participation  in  the  solemn  exercises  of 
the  occasion,  and  by  a  glow  of  fervent  feeling  which 
may  have  betrayed  the  writer  into  a  warmth  of  ex- 
pression which  none  but  those  similarly  situated  know 
how  to  interpret  and  appreciate.  If  this,  however, 
be  a  fault,  it  should  be  considered  a  pardonable  one, 
as  it  arises  principally  from  a  strong  and  lively  feel- 
ing of  devotion  which  the  writer  felt  at  the  time ;  and 
yet,  I  humbly  trust,  it  was  written  under  the  dictates 
of  a  cool  and  reflecting  judgment,  chastened  and  hal- 
lowed by  a  grateful  recollection  of  the  goodness  of 
God.      The  following  is  the  account  alluded  to  : — 

"  An  unusual  number  of  people  were  assembled  on  Tues- 
day, when  the  exercises  began  under  the  most  favorable 
auspices.  The  word  of  the  Lord  which  was  delivered,  was 
received  by  the  people  with  apparent  eagerness  and  de^ 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST    EPISCCPAL    CHURCH.  271 

light.  Great  peace  and  harmony  prevailed;  and  the  prayers 
of  God's  people  were  fervent  and  incessant.  In  the  eve- 
ning there  were  some  conversions. 

"  There  were  between  forty  and  fifty  sloops  in  the  har- 
bor ;  and  it  was  judged  that  there  were  from  six  to  eight 
thousand  people  on  the  encampment ;  and,  what  was  most 
desirable,  great  order  and  solemnity  prevailed. 

"  According  to  the  order  of  the  meeting,  the  people  this 
night  retired  to  rest  at  ten  o'clock.  The  next  morning  open- 
ed a  delightful  prospect  to  a  contemplative  mind.  The 
rising  sun  in  the  east,  darting  his  lucid  beams  through  the 
grove,  which  was  now  rendered  vocal  by  the  voice  of 
morning  prayer  in  the  several  tents,  announced  the  super- 
intending care,  and  proclaimed  the  majesty  of  Him  who 
maketh  the  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good.  The 
gentle  zephyrs  softly  whispering  through  the  foliage  of  the 
beautiful  grove,  now  consecrated  to  God,  was  an  expressive 
emblem  of  that  divine  Spirit  which  so  sweetly  filled  the 
soul  and  tranquilized  all  the  passions  of  the  human  heart. 
Not  a  turbulent  passion  was  permitted  to  interrupt  the 
sacred  peace  and  divine  harmony  which  the  heavenly 
Dove  had  imparted  to  God's  beloved  people.  The  exer- 
cises of  this  day  were  solemn,  impressive,  and  divinely 
animating.  The  falling  tear  from  many  eyes  witnessed 
the  inward  anguish  which  was  produced  in  the  hearts  of 
sinners  by  the  word  of  eternal  truth.  Those  trembling 
sinners,  groaning  under  the  weight  of  their  sins,  were  en- 
circled by  God's  people,  and  lifted  to  his  throne  in  the  arms 
of  faith  and  prayer.  Some  were  disburthened  of  their  load ; 
and  their  sho«ts  of  praise  testified  that  Jesus  had  become 
their  Friend, 

"  The  departure  of  the  sun  under  the  western  horizon 
indicated  the  time  to  have  arrived  for  the  intelligent  cre- 
ation to  lose   themselves  once  more  in 

'  Tir'd  nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep.' 

2 


272  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  1809. 

But,  while  some  obeyed  the  impulse  of  nature,  and  suffered 
the  soft  slumbers  of  the  evening  shades  to  lock  up  their 
external  senses,  others,  animated  by  the  love  of  God,  and 
attracted  by  the  sympathetic  groans  of  wounded  sinners, 
whose  piercing  cries  ascended  to  heaven,  committing 
themselves  to  the  protection  of  God,  assembled  in  groups, 
and  united  their  petitions  and  intercessions  to  almighty  God 
in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their  mourning  fellow-creatures. 
Neither  did  they  labor  in  vain  ;  for  some  of  these  mourning 
penitents  emerged  into  the  liberties  of  the  gospel.  About 
midnight  I  was  attracted  by  the  shouts  of  an  intimate  friend, 
who  had  been  sometime  overwhelmed  upon  the  stand  with 
the  power  of  God.  In  company  with  some  of  the  young 
disciples  of  Christ,  I  drew  near,  while  he  proclaimed  the 
wonders  of  redeeming  love.  I  at  first  looked  on  with  the 
criticising  eye  of  cool  philosophy,  determined  not  to  be 
carried  away  with  passionate  exclamations.  Bracing  my- 
self as  much  as  possible,  I  was  resolved  my  passions 
should  not  get  the  ascendancy  over  my  judgment.  But,  in 
spite  of  all  my  philosophy,  my  prejudice,  and  my  resist- 
ance, my  heart  suddenly  melted  like  wax  before  the  fire, 
and  my  nerves  seemed  in  a  moment  relaxed.  These  de- 
vout exercises  were  finally  interrupted  by  a  shower  of 
rain  ;  but  the  showers  of  grace  descended  so  plentifully 
that  sleep  could  not  be  persuaded  to  visit  many  of  our 
eyes.     So  we  sang 

*  With  thee  all  night  I  mean  to  stay, 
And  wrestle  till  the  break  of  day.' 

"  The  next  day  was  remarkable  on  account  of  the  pres- 
ence of  Him  who  dwelt  in  the  bush.  The  sermons  were 
pointed,  lively,  and  solemn.  The  prayers  were  ardent, 
faithful,  and  persevering.  The  singing  melodious,  and  cal- 
culated to  elevate  the  mind  to  the  third  heaven.  The 
shouts  of  redeeming  love  were  solemnly  delightful ;  and 


1809J  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  273 

the  cries  of  penitent  sinners  deep  and  piercing.  Not- 
withstanding the  ahnost  incessant  labors  of  the  last  twen- 
ty-four hours,  when  night  came  on  many  seemed  deter- 
mined not  to  intermit  their  religious  exercises.  Their 
souls  being  knit  together  by  divine  love,  they  persevered 
in  their  prayers  and  exhortations  ;  some  heavy-laden  sin- 
ners, delivered  from  their  sins,  were  enabled  to  praise 
God  for  his  pardoning  mercy. 

"  Friday  was  the  day  appointed  to  close  our  meeting. 
It  had  been  unusually  solemn,  and  profitable  to  many, 
very  many  souls  ;  and  the  hour  of  separation  was  antici- 
pated with  reluctance.  The  exercises  of  this  day  \vere 
attended  with  an  uncommon  manifestation  of  the  power 
and  presence  of  God.  The  mournful  cries  of  penitent 
sinners  were  many  and  strong  ;  and  the  professors  of  re- 
ligion were  ardently  engaged  in  praying  for  them  ;  and 
not  a  few  were  groaning  for  full  redemption  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb.  While  engaged  in  this  exercise,  some  of 
the  preachers  were  baptized  afresh  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  fire  ;  and  their  cup  ran  over  with  love  to  God  and  to 
the  souls  of  men. 

"  After  the  meeting  was  closed,  circumstances  rendered 
it  expedient  for  the  people  from  New- York,  and  some  others, 
to  remain  on  the  ground  another  night.  This  news  was 
received  by  most  of  the  people  with  delightful  sensations. 
Indeed,  the  place  had  become  a  sanctified  Bethel  to  our 
souls. 

"  At  6  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  people  were  summoned  to  the 
stand  for  preaching.  The  preacher  who  was  to  address 
them,  after  singing  and  prayer,  read  the  following  text : — 
*  God,  who  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners  spake 
in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the  prophets,  hath  in  these 
last  days  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son.'  Not  being  able  to 
proceed,  a  preacher  standing  near  one  of  the  tents,  perceiv- 
ing his  situation,  went  on  the  stand,  took  the  text  which  had 
12* 


274  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1809. 

been  read,  and  made  some  observations  upon  it,  which  were 
attended  with  divine  authority,  and  with  the  unction  of  the 
Holy  One.  Many  fell  to  the  ground  under  the  mighty 
power  of  God,  while  the  shouts  of  the  redeemed  seemed 
to  rend  the  heavens,  and  to  be  carried  on  the  waves  of 
the  undulating  air  to  the  distant  hills,  and  in  their  rolling 
melody  proclaimed  the  praises  of  Him  who  sits  upon  the 
throne  and  of  the  Lamb. 

*'  This  was  one  of  the  most  awfully  solemn  scenes  my 
eyes  ever  beheld.  Such  a  sense  of  the  ineffable  Majesty 
rested  upon  my  soul,  that  I  was  lost  in  astonishment,  won- 
der, and  profound  adoration.  Human  language  cannot 
express  the  solemn,  the  delightful,  the  deep  and  joyful 
sensation  which  pervaded  my  soul.  Nor  me  alone.  It 
was  a  general  shower  of  divine  love.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
windows  of  heaven  were  opened,  and  such  a  blessing 
poured  out  that  there  was  scarcely  room  to  contain  it. 
The  glory  of  the  God-man  shone  with  divine  lustre  all 
around,  and  filled  every  believing  heart.  Singing,  prayer, 
and  exhortation  were  continued  more  or  less  until  3  o'clock 
next  morning,  the  hour  appointed  to  prepare  to  leave  the 
consecrated  ground.  Many  were  the  subjects  of  convert 
ing  grace  ;  and  great  was  the  joy  of  the  happy  Christians. 

"  About  8  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Saturday,  those  of  us  from 
the  city  embarked  in  the  steam-boat  Connecticut,  Captain 
Bunker,  whose  polite  attention  deserves  our  warmest 
thanks.  It  seemed  like  leaving  the  place  of  the  divine 
Shekinah,  and  going  into  the  world  again — but  still  the 
presence  of  our  God  rested  upon  us. 

"  I  trust  the  fruits  of  this  camp-meeting  will  be  exten- 
sively witnessed.  Not  only  sinners  were  awakened  and 
converted,  but  very  inany  believers  were  quickened,  and 
the  work  of  grace  was  deepened  in  their  hearts  ;  and  some 
who  had  been  languid  in  their  spiritual  enjoyments  formed 
resolutions  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  God.  May  they  never 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  275 

violate  their  solemn  vow,  nor  suffer  their  serious  impres- 
sions to  be  effaced.  Let  no  vain  amusement,  no  trifling 
company,  nor  any  worldly  concern  divert  your  attention, 
ye  young  professors  of  religion,  or  ever  efface  from  your 
minds  those  solemn  impressions  of  God,  and  of  his  good- 
ness, which  you  have  received. 

"  The  writer  of  this  imperfect  sketch  feels  as  if  he 
should  praise  God  in  eternity  for  this  camp-meeting. 
What  a  sacred  fire  has  been  kindled  at  this  holy  altar. 
May  many  waters  never  extinguish  it.  It  is  not  a  tran- 
sient blaze  or  a  sudden  ecstasy.  No  ;  my  soul  bows  with 
submission  to  my  God,  and  thankfully  acknowledges  the 
continuance  of  his  loving  kindness.  The  bare  recollection 
of  that  solemn  pause — when  Jesus  spoke — with  a  voice 
more  melodious  than  all  the  harps  of  the  muses — fills  my 
soul  with  solemn  delight. 

"  Sometimes  when  I  have  indulged  in  the  cool  specu- 
lations which  worldly  prudence  would  suggest,  so  many 
objections  have  been  raised  in  my  mind  against  camp- 
meetings,  that  I  have  been  ready  to  proclaim  war  against 
them ;  but  these  objections  have  uniformly  been  obviated 
by  witnessing  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  meetings  while 
attending  them.  My  theories  have  all  been  torn  in  pieces 
while  testing  them  by  actual  experiment — but  never  more 
effectually  than  by  this  last.  This  is  more  convincing 
than  all  the  arguments  in  the  world.  What  I  experience 
I  know  ;  and  hundreds  of  others,  equally  competent  to  de- 
cide, would,  were  they  called  upon,  bear  a  similar  testi- 
mony. O  !  ye  happy  souls  that  were  bathed  in  the  love 
of  God  at  this  meeting  !  May  you  ever  evince  to  the  world 
by  the  uniformity  of  your  Christian  conduct,  that  such 
meetings  are  highly  useful. 

"  An  indescribable  pleasure  is  even  now  felt  from  re- 
viewing those  moments  of  solemn  dehght,  while  our  kin- 
dred spirits,  attracted  by  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ,  joyfully 


27b  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  L1809 

adored  the  God  of  our  salvation.     May  such  seasons  of 
refreshing  often  return.    O  !  the  depth  of  redeeming  love  ! 

'  Angel  minds  arc  lost  to  ponder 
Dying  love's  mysterious  cause.' 

"  One  thing  which  contributed  greatly  to  the  promotion 
of  the  cause  of  God  at  this  meeting  was  the  order  and 
regularity  which  prevailed.  There  was  little  or  no  dis- 
turbance from  spectators  ;  and  but  little  confusion  in  any 
of  the  religious  exercises.  Sometimes,  indeed,  the  ardor 
of  the  mind,  when  powerfully  operated  upon  by  the  Spirit 
of  God,  would  lead  it  to  break  over  the  bounds  of  modera- 
tion ;  but  in  general  the  exercises  were  conducted  with 
much  decorum  and  regularity.  Hymns  were  selected 
which  were  solemn  and  impressive  ;  and  the  prayers  and 
exhortations,  as  well  as  the  preaching,  all  indicated  that 
the  mind  was  under  the  direction  of  grace. 

"  How  many  were  brought  to  the  experience  of  redeem- 
ing grace,  cannot  be  correctly  ascertained  ;  but  the  number 
must  have  been  very  considerable.  New- York,  as  well  as 
other  places,  will,  I  trust,  be  greatly  profited  by  means  of 
this  meeting.  A  general  quickening  is  already  witnessed, 
and  some  sinners  have  been  awakened  and  converted 
since  our  return.  May  their  numbers  be  continually  mul- 
tiplied." 

That  the  reader  may  see  that  similar  effects  attend- 
ed camp-meetings  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  I 
give  the  following,  which  was  written  by  the  Rev. 
William  Beauchamp — since  gone  to  his  reward — 
who  was  remarkable  for  the  coolness  and  soundness 
of  his  judgment,  and  freedom  from  every  thing  bor- 
dering upon  enthusiasm.   This  account  is  as  follows : — 

"A  camp-meeting  was  lately  held,  about  thirty-five  miles 
from  this  place,  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  under  the 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  277 

superintendence  of  brother  John  Stewart,  the  traveling 
Methodist  preacher  having  the  charge  of  Mount  Carmel 
circuit.  It  commenced  on  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  the 
20th  day  of  last  month,  and  closed  on  the  morning  of  the 
following  Monday.  The  congregation  was  not  large,  usu- 
ally about  three  hundred  souls  ;  on  the  sabbath  perhaps 
six  hundred.  This  meeting  was  remarkable  for  serious- 
ness, solemnity,  and  good  order.  Such  a  sense  of  the 
divine  presence  appeared  to  rest  on  the  assembly,  that 
those  who  might  have  been  disposed  to  be  rude  were  re- 
strained, and  awed  into  respectful  deportment.  It  was 
obvious  that  the  ministers  who  addressed  the  people  were 
clothed,  both  in  their  sermons  and  exhortations,  with  power 
from  on  high ;  for  their  word  fell  upon  the  congregation 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Divine  illumina- 
tion seemed,  at  times,  to  flash  like  lightning  upon  the  as- 
sembly, and  produced  the  most  powerful  effects.  The 
mild  splendor  of  heavenly  joy  shone  in  the  faces  of  the 
people  of  God  ;  while  the  darkness  of  condemnation  and 
the  horrors  of  guilt  hung,  like  the  shadows  of  death,  upon 
the  countenances  of  the  ungodly.  The  merciful  power  of 
God  was  manifested  in  a  particular  manner  in  the  convic- 
tion of  sinners  and  the  justification  of  mourning  penitents  ; 
while  believers  were  not  destitute  of  its  divine  influence, 
by  which  they  drank  deeper  into  the  spirit  of  holiness. 

"  In  the  intervals  of  preaching,  it  was  common  to  see  a 
number  of  mourning  souls  prostrate  near  the  stand,  for 
whom  supplications  were  offered  unto  a  throne  of  grace. 
And  they  were  not  offered  in  vain.  About  twenty  pro- 
fessed to  be  reconciled  to  God  through  faith  in  the  blood 
of  Christ.     Several  joined  our  Church. 

"  On  Monday  morning,  under  the  last  sermon  preached 
at  this  meeting,  we  seemed  to  be  in  the  very  suburbs  of 
heaven.  The  subject  was,  '  The  inheritance  of  the  saints 
in  light.'     The  preacher,  apparently  swallowed  up  in  the 

2 


278  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1809. 

subject,  bore  the  congregation  away  with  him  into  the 
celestial  regions,  in  the  contemplation  of  the  glories  of  the 
world  to  come.  It  was  a  very  precious  time  to  the  reli- 
gious part  of  the  assembly ;  and  the  irreligious  part,  I 
doubt  not,  received  some  very  strong  and  deep  impres- 
sions of  the  eternal  world.  I  know  not  that  there  was 
one  dry  eye  in  the  whole  assembly. 

"  On  the  Friday  following  another  camp-meeting  com- 
menced in  the  neighborhood  of  this  place.  In  respect  to 
numbers  it  was  similar  to  the  former  one  ;  nor  was  it  less 
remarkable  in  regard  to  seriousness,  solemnity,  and  good 
order.  In  this  respect  I  can  truly  say,  that,  though  I  have 
been  at  many  camp-meetings,  I  never  saw  such  as  these 
before.  We  had  no  guard  ;  and  at  the  last  meeting  no 
rules,  for  the  regulations  of  it,  were  published.  We  needed 
none.  God  was  our  defence  and  salvation.  He  encamped 
with  us  in  his  gracious  and  glorious  presence,  to  awe  the 
wicked  into  respect  for  his  worship,  and  to  shed  upon  the 
children  of  faith  the  richest  effusions  of  divine  grace. 

*'  The  latter  of  these  meetings  was  different,  in  some 
respects,  from  the  former.  The  preaching  did  not  appear 
to  be  attended  with  so  much  power,  and  such  displays  of 
divine  illumination.  But  the  prayer-meetings  in  the  inter- 
vals were  more  abundantly  distinguished  by  the  commu- 
nication of  justifying  grace,  in  answer  to  the  supplications 
of  the  people  of  God.  About  forty-five  professed  to  re- 
ceive the  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  twenty-three  offered 
themselves  to  become  members  of  our  Church. 

"  One  circumstance  is  worthy  of  particular  notice.  A 
Scotch  family,  remarkable  for  good  breeding  and  propriety 
of  deportment,  attended  this  meeting.  They  were  eight 
in  number  ;  the  elderly  gentleman,  his  lady,  three  daugh- 
ters, two  sons,  and  a  nephew.  The  female  head  of  this 
family  was  not  destitute  of  the  knowledge  of  salvation  by 
the  remission  of  sins.  This  treasure  she  had  obtained  in 
2 


1809.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  279 

her  native  country.  But  the  rest  were  not  in  posses- 
sion of  this  pearl  of  great  price.  However,  in  the  course 
of  a  few  hours,  at  this  meeting,  they  were  all  power- 
fully convicted,  and,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  truly  con- 
verted to  God. 

"  This  is  a  singular  circumstance.  Such  a  family  as 
this  was  is  rarely  found  ;  and  the  conversion  of  seven  per- 
sons out  of  eight  belonging  to  it,  under  such  circumstan- 
ces, within  the  compass  of  a  few  hours,  is,  perhaps,  almost 
without  a  parallel.  It  will  not  escape  the  notice  of  the 
pious  mind,  accustomed  to  reflect  on  the  workings  of  na- 
ture and  the  operations  of  grace,  that  the  self-righteous- 
ness of  such  persons  generally  presents  the  strongest  bar- 
rier against  faith.  But  the  power  of  divine  grace  broke 
down  this  barrier  in  them  ;  then  they  sunk,  in  humble  con- 
fidence, on  the  merits  of  the  Redeemer. 

"  The  presiding  elder  who  attended  this  meeting,  in- 
formed me  that  many  camp-meetings  had  been  held  in  his 
district,  and  that  they  had  been  generally  blessed  with 
great  displays  of  divine  power.  Since  then  I  have  received 
information  through  another  medium,  that  a  camp-meeting 
held  not  far  from  Shawneetown  in  this  state  was  favored 
with  an  abundant  outpouring  of  the  grace  of  God.  More 
than  thirty  persons  professed  to  obtain  the  remission  of 
their  sins. 

"  The  writer  of  this  communication  has  remarked  for  a 
number  of  years  past,  that  a  large  proportion  of  those  who 
are  brought  to  the  possession  of  the  life  and  power  of 
godliness,  are  found  among  the  rising  generation.  This 
was  particularly  so  at  the  meetings  above  mentioned. 
Does  this  not  strongly  portend  that  God  is  about  to  effect 
some  great  and  glorious  purpose  in  favor  of  his  church,  by 
the  generation  which  is  to  succeed  us  ?  Thanks  be  unto 
his  name  for  what  he  has  done.  But  he  has  more  in  store 
for  our  world  than  we  can  readily  conceive.     May  his 

2 


A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1810. 

goodness  be  manifested  in  such  gracious  displays  of  Al- 
mighty power  as  will  bear  down  all  opposition.     Amen. 
''Mount  Carn,el,  Illl?iois,  Aug.  15,  1821." 

These  accounts,  together  witli  the  preceding  histo- 
rical sketches  and  remarks,  will  enable  the  dispassion- 
ate reader  to  form  an  estimate  of  the  character  of 
camp-meetings,  and  of  their  effects  upon  the  church 
and  society  generally. 

No  less  than  fifty-three  preachers  located  this 
year ;  eight  were  returned  superannuated,  and  one 
was  expelled. 

Three  preachers,  namely,  Edmund  Henly^  Leonard 
Cassell,  and  Henry  Martin,  had  ended  their  days  in 
peace.  They  were  all  comparatively  young  in  the 
ministry,  but  had  discharged  its  duties  with  fidelity, 
giving  evidence  of  fervent  piety  and  improving  talents. 

Numbers  in  the   Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.       Preachers. 

This  year      131,154        31,884      103,038        597 
Last  year      121,687        30,308      151,995        540 


Increase  9,467  1,576         11,043  57 

1810.  This  year  the  Genesee  Conference  was 
formed,  making  eight  in  all.  Such  had  been  the  in- 
crease of  preachers  and  people  in  western  New-York 
and  in  the  Canadas,  particularly  in  the  upper  pro- 
vince, that  the  bishops  thought  it  advisable,  in  the 
exercise  of  the  authority  invested  in  them  by  the  last 
General  Conference,  to  set  off  a  new  conference  for 
the  accommodation  of  that  part  of  the  work. 

This  year  the  Western  conference  was  held  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  Methodism  had  grown  up  with 
2 


1810.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  281 

the  growth  of  the  place,  and  strengthened  with  its 
strength.  And  as  this  is  considered  the  "  queen  city" 
of  the  west,  perhaps  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give 
some  account  of  its  location  and  first  settlements,  as 
well  as  the  progress  of  the  gospel  among  its  inhabit- 
ants. 

Cincinnati  was  first  laid  out  as  a  town  in  1789, 
when  the  population  could  not  have  been  more  than 
between  two  and  three  hundred,  for  in  1800  it  was 
only  seven  hundred  and  fifty — whereas  now  it  num- 
bers more  than   forty  thousand. 

It  is  beautifully  located  on  the  western  bank  of  the 
Ohio  river,  in  Hamilton  county,  on  a  plain,  the  hills 
behind  it  rising  like  a  spacious  amphitheatre,  giving 
a  commanding  view  of  the  city,  the  Ohio  river,  and 
the  surrounding  country,  variegated  as  it  is  by  hill 
and  dale. 

By  whom  and  at  what  time  Methodism  was  intro- 
duced into  Cincinnati,  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn, 
but  presume  it  must  have  been  about  the  year  1800, 
under  the  labors  of  Henry  Smith,  as  he  formed  what 
was  called  the  Miami  circuit  about  that  time,  to  which 
Cincinnati  was  attached  until  the  year  1809.  In  the 
year  1805  Bishops  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  visited  the 
town,  and  put  up  at  the  house  of  William  Lives.  At 
that  time  there  were  few  in  the  place  who  feared 
God,  and  but  a  small  society  of  Methodists.  Bishop 
Asbury,  however,  gave  them  a  discourse  on  "  Seek 
ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found.""^  In  1807 
Bishop  Asbury  was  again  in  Cincinnati,  and  remarks 
that  the  brethren  had  succeeded  in  building  a  stone 
house  of  worship,  forty  feet  by  thirty,  which,  it  is 
*  See  his  Journal,  vol.  iii.  p.  178. 


2MI  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1810 

presumed,  was  ihe  first  built  in  that  city.  Here  he 
preached  on  Sabbath,  Sept.  26,  to  a  crowded  house, 
and  then  met  the  society  and  ordained  W.  M'Neachan 
and  William  Whitiker  to  the  office  of  deacon."* 

Before  his  arrival  in  Cincinnati  the  bishop  had  at- 
tended a  camp-meeting  at  Hockhocking,  and  a  con- 
ference at  Chilicothe,  of  which  he  speaks  as  having 
a  salutary  effect  upon  the  minds  of  the  people.  "  Not- 
withstanding," he  remarks,  "  opposition  from  more  than 
one  quarter,  our  last  camp-meeting  was  successful  ; 
the  fruit  is  immediate  ;  and  where  it  is  not  it  will  yet 
be  seen." 

In  1808,  after  traversing  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try,  attending  camp  and  other  meetings,  we  find  him, 
in  company  with  Henry  Boehm,  who  preached  to  the 
people  of  Cincinnati  in  the  German  language,  again 
in  this  place,  where  he  preached  on  Sabbath  morn- 
ing to  the  people  with  much  satisfaction,  and  again  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  house  of  brother  Lakin.  He  says 
in  this  connection,  "  I  have  advised  the  society  here 
to  invite  the  Western  yearly  conference  to  hold  their 
session  in  Cincinnati." 

The  next  year,  in  company  with  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree,  we  find  him  once  more  in  Cincinnati,  when  he 
remarks  : — "  The  house  here  is  enlarged,  and  the  so- 
ciety increased." 

Until  tlie  year  1809,  the  Miami  circuit  included 
Cincinnati,  and  contained  one  thousand  two  hundred 
and  eighty  church  members.  But  at  the  conference 
for  1809  the  name  of  the  circuit  was  changed  to  Cin- 
cinnati, and  Miami  became  the  name  of  a  new  dis- 
trict. This  year,  1810,  there  are  returned  on  the  mi- 
*  See  his  Journal,  vol.  iii.  p.  234. 
2 


1810.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  283 

nutes  of  conference  for  Cincinnati,  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-one  church  members,  under  the  charge  of  two 
preachers  ;  but  whether  it  included  any  other  places 
than  the  city,  I  cannot  tell. 

This  year,  as  before  said,  in  accordance  with  the 
advice  of  Bishop  Asbury,  the  Western  conference  was 
held  in  Cincinnati.  He  arrived  there  on  Thursday, 
the  27th  of  September,  and  on  Sunday  preached 
morning  and  evening,  met  the  society  on  Monday, 
and  "  I  felt,"  says  he,  "  an  intimate  communion  with 
God,  and  great  love  to  the  people,  saints  and  poor 
sinners  ;"  and  on  Tuesday  he  "  bid  farewell  to  our 
loving  and  affectionate  friends  in  Cincinnati,'^  with  a 
view  to  make  an  excursion  into  the  country  before  the 
assembling  of  the  conference,  that  no  time  might  be 
lost  in  idleness  or  unnecessary  recreation. 

The  conference  commenced  on  Thursday,  Nov.  1, 
and  it  "  progressed  on  well"  during  its  sessions,  and 
they  found  an  increase  of  four  thousand  for  the  past 
year.  Bishop  M'Kendree  was  present  at  this  time, 
and  on  Sabbath  preached  to  the  conference  and  the 
people  who  assembled. 

Last  year  a  new  district  was  formed  in  the  West- 
ern conference,  called  Indiana^  and  this  year  two  new 
circuits.  Cape  Girrideau  and  Vincennes,  were  added 
to  it,  making  in  all  six  circuits,  under  the  charge  of 
Samuel  Parker,  whose  labors  in  that  part  of  the 
country  were  rendered  a  blessing  to  many.  By  this 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  work  was  still  spreading  in 
the  west,  keeping  pace  with  the  growing  population 
of  the  country,  so  that  the  ordinances  of  religion  might 
be  established  simultaneously  with  their  civil  and  do- 
mestic institutions. 

% 


284  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1810 

Vincennes  is  the  oldest  town  in  the  state,  and  was 
settled,  as  its  name  indicates,  by  the  French,  as  early 
as  1690,  at  the  time  when  that  enterprising  nation, 
to  secure  their  American  colonies  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  other  nations,  were  stretching  a  line  of  mili- 
tary posts  and  small  settlements  from  Quebec  up  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes  and 
rivers  to  New  Orleans.  But  though  thus  early  settled, 
its  increase  for  a  considerable  time  was  exceedingly 
slow,  exhibiting  none  of  those  marks  of  industry  and 
rapid  population  which  have  more  recently  distinguish 
ed  the  rising  counties  and  states  of  the  west.  It  is  stated 
indeed,  that  in  1800  the  entire  territory  of  Indiana 
contained  only  five  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty- 
one  inhabitants  ;  but  in  1820,  four  years  after  it  was 
admitted  into  the  federal  Union,  it  contained  a  popu- 
lation of  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  thousand  one 
hundred  and  seventy-eight ;  and  in  1810,  the  lime  of 
which  we  are  speaking,  there  were  twenty-four  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  twenty  inhabitants — quite  a 
sufficient  number  to  demand  the  exertions  of  a  gospel 
ministry. 

The  district  over  which  Mr.  Parker  presided,  in 
eluded  a  large  tract  of  country  comprehending  por- 
tions of  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Indiana  ;  and  the  two  cir- 
cuits above  named,  namely,  Cape  Girrideau  and  Vin- 
cennes, were  traveled,  the  first  by  Jesse  Walker  and 
the  second  by  William  Winans.  They  must  have 
cultivated  this  rugged  field  with  considerable  success, 
for  we  find  in  the  minutes  of  conference  for  the  next 
year,  for  Cape  Girrideau,  one  hundred,  and  Vincennes 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  members,  and  for  the 
entire  district,  one  thousand  and  nine. 
2 


1810.1  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  285 

We  have  mentioned  that  there  was  a  great  work 
of  God  in  the  city  of  New-York  in  the  two  preceding 
years ;  and  perhaps  from  the  time  the  Society  was 
formed  in  this  city,  there  had  not  been  so  general  a 
revival  as  this.  In  the  two  years  the  increase  of 
members  amounted  to  not  less  than  five  hundred  and 
ninety-seven,  making  in  all,  including  white  and 
colored,  two  thousand  ;  and  a  spirit  of  zeal  seemed 
to  characterize  the  entire  body  of  Methodists  in  the 
city,  so  much  so  that  in  the  year  1810  two  new 
churches  were  built,  one  in  Allen,  and  the  other  in 
Bedford-street,  known  then  as  Greenwich  village ; 
and  the  good  work  still  progressed  with  encouraging 
success  in  most  of  the  churches. 

In  other  portions  of  the  church  there  were  pros- 
perous times,  and  generally  great  peace  and  harmony 
prevailed  through  all  our  borders. 

Locations,  however,  still  continued  to  weaken  the 
ministry,  by  depriving  the  Church  of  some  of  its  more 
experienced  ministers ;  for  not  less  than  fifty-one  desist- 
ed from  traveling  this  year  in  the  several  annual  con- 
ferences; twelve  were  returned  supernumerary;  ten  su- 
perannuated, and  two,  Reuben  Hubbard  and  Clement 
Hichnan,  withdrew,  the  first  of  whom  joined  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped, 
retained  his  usefulness.  Moses  Blach,  Joseph  Everett, 
and  John  Wilson  had  died  in  the  Lord. 

Joseph  Everett  was,  in  many  respects,  a  remark- 
able man.  He  was  a  native  of  Queen  Ann's  county, 
Maryland,  and  was  born  June  17th,  1732.  Edu- 
cated in  the  English  Church,  he  was  early  biased  in 
favor  of  her  forms  and  ceremonies,  though,  as  to  the 
fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Church,  or  experimental 


A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1810 

and  practical  religion^  he  was  entirely  indifferent, 
and  so  remained  until  the  year  1763,  when  he  was 
awakened  and  converted  by  the  preaching  of  the  "  New- 
Lights,"  the  followers  of  Mr.  Whitefield.  He  accord- 
ingly became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  ; 
but  having  only  few  associates  like-minded  with  nim- 
«elf,  and  drinking  in  the  doctrine  of  unconditional  pre- 
destination, he  gradually  lost  his  religious  enjoyment, 
and  finally  became  more  vicious  than  ever.  In  this 
state  he  continued  for  many  years,  during  which  time 
he  volunteered  as  a  soldier  in  the  militia  of  Maryland 
in  defence  of  his  country's  rights  in  the  time  of  the 
revolutionary  war  ;  but  in  1778,  under  the  preaching 
of  Mr.  Asbury,  he  was  aroused  from  his  spiritual  le- 
thargy, and  induced  to  seek  again  for  redemption  in 
the  blood  of  Christ.  After  many  hard  struggles  with 
unbelief  and  a  rebellious  heart,  he  was  restored  to 
the  favor  of  God,  and  by  consulting  the  able  and  lu- 
minous writings  of  Wesley  and  Fletcher,  he  was  led 
to  a  new  view  of  the  plan  of  redemption  and  the  way 
of  salvation  by  faith  in  Christ,  and  more  especially  to 
an  enlarged  and  more  comprehensive  view  of  the 
divine  goodness  toward  our  fallen  world. 

The  result  was,  that  he  joined  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  in  1780  entered  the  traveling  ministry. 

Here  was  a  new  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents 
— and  it  soon  appeared  that  he  was  indeed  anointed 
of  God  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  was  eminently  dis- 
tinguished for  the  boldness,  the  pointedness,  plain- 
ness, and  energy  with  which  he  rebuked  sin,  and 
warned  the  sinner  of  his  danger.  And  these  search- 
ing appeals  to  the  consciences  of  his  hearers,  made 
tliem  tremble  under  the  fearful  apprehension  of  the 
2 


1810.3  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHtJRCH.  287 

wrath  of  God,  and  their  high  responsibihty  to  him  for 
their  conduct.  Great  was  the  success  which  attend- 
ed his  faithful  admonitions  ;  for  wherever  he  went  he 
was  like  a  flame  of  fire  darting  conviction  into  the 
understanding  and  conscience  of  the  ungodly,  and  at 
the  sam.e  time  pointing  the  penitent  to  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb  for  pardon  and  salvation. 

In  this  work  he  continued  with  untiring  industry 
and  indefatigable  perseverance  until,  worn  down  with 
labor  and  toil,  in  1804,  he  received  a  superannuated 
relation,  but  still  bearing  his  pointed  testimony  for 
God  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  speak  in  his  name, 
and  manifesting  to  the  last  an  unshaken  confidence  in 
God,  and  an  unabated  attachment  to  the  doctrines  and 
discipline  of  the  church  of  his  choice. 

He  died  at  Dr.  White's,  in  Dorchester  county, 
Maryland,  it  being  the  house  whence  he  set  out 
on  his  itinerant  life,  and  on  the  circuit  which  he 
first  traveled,  on  the  16th  day  of  October,  1809,  in  the 
seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  thirtieth  of  his 
ministry.  His  last  end  "  was  peace  and  assurance 
for  ever."  At  about  twelve  o'clock  of  the  night  on 
which  he  died,  he  awoke  from  a  gentle  slumber,  and 
immediately  broke  forth  in  praise,  shouting  glory  to 
God  !  In  this  exercise  he  continued  for  about  twenty- 
five  minutes,  to  the  joy  and  astonishment  of  his 
friends,  and  then  ceased  to  speak  and  breathe  at  once. 

The  name  of  Joseph  Everett  deserves  to  be  enroll- 
ed among  the  early  veterans  of  the  cross  of  Christ. 
He  joined  the  ranks  of  Methodism  in  its  infancy  in 
this  country,  and  contributed  largely  to  fix  it  on  that 
broad  basis  on  which  it  has  since  stood  unshaken  amid 
the  storms  and  billows  with  which  it  had  to  contend 

2 


388  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1810. 

It  would,  indeed,  seem  that  the  Methodist  preach* 
ers  of  those  days  were  so  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  their 
Master,  and  so  entirely  absorbed  in  their  peculiar 
work,  that  they  thought  of  little  else  but  saving  souls 
from  death.  And  so  deeply  penetrated  were  they 
with  the  "  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,"  that  their  re- 
bukes to  the  sinner  were  sometimes  tremendously 
awful,  and  fearfully  pointed  and  solemn.  This  was 
peculiarly  so  with  Mr.  Everett.  His  whole  soul 
seemed  to  be  thrown  into  his  subject  whenever  he 
preached,  and  his  warnings  and  entreaties  were 
enough  to  melt  the  stoutest  heart,  while  he  wound  the 
cord  of  truth  so  tightly  around  the  sinner's  conscience 
as  to  make  him  writhe  and  tremble  under  the  wounds 
it  inflicted.  But  he  left  him  not  here  to  welter  in  his 
blood.  He  presented  to  his  troubled  mind  the  "  sin- 
atoning  Victim,"  as  a  "  balm  for  every  wound,"  and 
as  now  ready,  to  "  appoint  to  him  the  oil  of  joy  for 
mourning,  and  the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of 
heaviness."  The  rich  promises  of  the  gospel  to  peni- 
tent sinners  dropped  from  his  lips  like  honey  descend- 
ing from  the  honey-comb,  and  when  believingly 
received  by  such,  he  rejoiced  over  them  as  a  father 
rejoices  over  a  returning  prodigal,  while  with  the  happy 
believer  he  participated  in  all  the  fulness  of  perfect 
love. 

John  Wilson  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  born  in 
Poulten,  Feb.  13,  1763,  where  he  received,  through 
the  assiduity  of  his  pious  parents,  a  religious  educa- 
tion, and  in  his  youth  became  a  member  of  the  Me- 
thodist Society.  In  1793  he  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try. After  settling  in  the  city  of  New- York  in  1795, 
he  received  a  new  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
2 


1810J  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  280 

was  led  on,  step  by  step,  from  a  class  leader  to  a  lo- 
cal preacher,  until  in  1797  he  entered  the  traveling 
ministry,  for  which  he  was  eminently  fitted  both  by 
gifts  and  grace.  He  traveled  and  preached  in  a  num- 
ber of  circuits  with  much  usefulness,  greatly  beloved 
by  the  people,  until  1803,  when  his  ministerial  labors 
were  much  restricted  by  an  attack  of  asthma,  from 
which  he  never  fully  recovered.  This  laid  the  found- 
ation for  his  dissolution,  on  January  28th,  1810,  in 
the  forty- seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  thirteenth  of 
his  ministry. 

In  1804  he  was  elected  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence an  assistant  book  agent,  and  in  1808  to  the 
charge  of  the  establishment.  These  offices  he  filled 
with  great  fidelity,  for  which  he  was  well  qualified  by 
his  previous  habits  and  the  course  of  his  education. 
^He  was,  indeed,  a  ready  writer,  an  excellent  account 
ant,  of  industrious  and  punctual  habits,  as  well  as  of 
a  sound  judgment  and  courteous  demeanor.  He  was 
also  well  skilled  in  his  own,  and  in  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages,  and  fully  understood  the  various  systems 
of  theology  with  which  the  world  abounds. 

In  the  midst,  however,  of  the  multifarious  concerns 
of  his  agency,  he  never  forgot  his  obligations  as  a 
minister  of  the  sanctuary  ;  and  if  he  excelled  in  any 
one  branch  of  Christian  doctrine  more  than  another,  it 
was  in  explaining  and  enforcing  sanctification,  or  ho- 
liness of  heart  and  life.  This  formed  the  theme  of 
all  his  discourses,  to  promote  which  he  made  all  the 
other  truths  of  the  gospel  and  all  religious  exercises 
subservient. 

And  as  this  trait  in  the  Christian  system  engaged 
much  of  his  attention  in  his  pulpit  labors,  so  he  was 

Vol.  II. — 13. 


290  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  C1810. 

no  less  distinguished  in  liis  more  private  intercourse 
by  the  sweetness  of  his  temper,  the  cheerfulness  of 
his  dis])osition,  and  the  urbanity  of  his  manners. 

Bishop  Asbury  once  said  to  him,  in  the  examina- 
tion of  characters  in  the  conference,  "  Brother  Wil- 
son, I  am  afraid  you  are  not  as  spiritual  as  you  used 
to  be."  He  replied,  with  a  pleasant  smile  upon  his 
countenance,  and  a  little  pertness  of  manner,  "  Indeed, 
sir,  if  you  had  heard  me  preach  to  the  Africans  last 
Sabbath,  you  would  alter  your  opinion."  He  then,  in 
most  respectful  terms,  thanked  the  bishop  for  his  re- 
proof, and  promised  to  endeavor  to  profit  by  it. 

He  was,  indeed,  an  exceedingly  pleasant  companion, 
buoyant  in  his  spirits,  and  though  apt  at  illustration  by 
anecdotes,  sometimes  of  a  facetious  character,  he 
always  took  care  to  make  them  rebuke  some  folly, 
correct  a  foible,  or  exemplify  the  spirit  of  piety  and 
Christian  zeal. 

In  the  several  relations  he  held  to  the  Church,  he 
-maintained  the  dignity  of  the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  humility  and  meekness  of  the  Christian,  and  the 
strict  integrity  of  the  sound  moralist.  Hence  those 
who  held  intercourse  with  him  were  always  pleased 
with  their  reception,  from  the  gentleness  of  his  deport- 
ment, the  blandness  of  his  manner,  and  his  scrupulous 
regard  to  justice,  goodness,  and  truth,  which  were 
manifested  in  all  his  conduct.  Hence  he  was  as  far 
removed  from  the  hauteur  of  the  spiritual  despot  as 
from  the  eflfeminacy  of  the  wily  sycophant.  He  was 
therefore  at  once  beloved  and  respected  by  all  who 
had  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 

He  died  suddenly.  Having  prayed  with  his  family 
in  the  evening  of  the  28th  of  January,  he  retired  to 
2 


1811.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  291 

rest,  but  awoke  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  and 
found  himself  suffocating  from  the  phlegm  rising  in 
his  throat,  which  he  was  unable  to  discharge,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  he  ceased  to  breathe.  His  previous  life 
declares  more  emphatically  than  words  could  express 
it,  that  his  end  was  peace. 

Numbers  in  the   Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.        Preachers. 

This  year  139,836  34,724  174,560  636"^ 
Last  year        131,154      31,884      163,038      597 

Increase  8,682        2,840         11,522        39 

1811.  For  several  years  past  our  country  had  been 
much  agitated  "  with  rumors  of  war,"  sometimes  with 
France,  at  other  times  with  Great  Britain,  and  not  un- 
frequently  both  assumed  a  belligerent  attitude  toward 
the  people  of  America.  This  state  of  things  had 
an  unfavorable  bearing  upon  the  minds  of  religious 
people,  as  it  led  to  frequent  collisions  on  political 
subjects,  on  which  the  country  was  nearly  equally  di- 
vided. In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  the  note  of  pre- 
paration for  hostile  movements  was  sounded  through 
the  country,  and  Great  Britain  was  selected  as  the 
chief  object  of  warlike  feeling. 

It  is  not  the  design  of  this  history  to  enter  into  any 
detail  of  the  causes  which  led  to  this  state  of  feeling, 
nor  to  discuss  or  give  a  judgment  on  the  merits  of  the 
questions  that  were  at  issue,  any  further  than  they  had 
a  bearing  upon  the  interests  of  pure  religion.      That 

*  This  enumeration  includes  the  supernumerary  and  super- 
annuated preachers  ;  and  as  they  properly  belong-  to  the  confer- 
ences, they  will  be  hereafter  included  in  the  number  of 
preachers. 

2 


292  A   HISTORY    OF    THE  [1811 

Strong  political  feeling,  more  especially  of  a  partisan 
character,  which  involves  heated  discussions  and  per- 
sonal recriminations,  is  unfriendly  to  the  advancement 
of  truth  and  righteousness,  must  be  evident  to  all  ac- 
quainted with  human  passions  and  the  biases  arising 
from  long-cherished  prejudices.  And  in  a  country 
where  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press  is  allowed 
to  all,  these  discussions  often  terminate  in  a  settled 
hostility  destructive  of  that  peace  and  brotherly  love 
which  characterize  holy  and  devoted  Christians. 

Notwithstanding  these  strong  symptoms  began  to 
show  themselves  in  the  country  about  this  time,  attend- 
ed with  their  usual  concomitants,  yet  through  the  per- 
severing efforts  of  God's  servants  the  work  in  which 
they  were  engaged  was  generally  prosperous,  and 
many  were  gathered  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  and  beginning  of 
1812,  the  south-western  part  of  our  country,  particu- 
larly Missouri  and  Louisiana,  was  terribly  shaken  by 
earthquakes,  by  which  the  minds  of  the  people  were 
much  alarmed,  and  it  seemed  to  give  a  temporary 
check  to  the  flood  of  emigration,  which  had  been  set- 
ting in  that  direction  with  such  astonishing  rapidity. 
They  soon  recovered,  however,  from  the  shock,  and  the 
streams  of  emigrants  resumed  their  wonted  course, 
and  the  march  of  improvement  went  gradually  on.  It 
led,  in  the  mean  time,  many  to  serious  reflection,  and 
thus  the  workings  of  divine  Providence  in  the  physical 
world  were  overruled  for  the  good  of  its  inhabitants. 
While  the  earth  was  trembling  and  quaking  beneath 
their  feet,  many  were  induced  to  call  on  God  for  mercy 
and  salvation. 

It  will  have  been  perceived  from  the  preceding 
k  2 


1811.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  293 

pages  of  this  history,  that  in  the  early  plantation  of 
Methodism,  especially  in  the  new  countries,  the  peo- 
ple were  compelled  to  hold  their  meetings  in  private 
houses,  in  barns,  and  often  in  groves.  As,  however, 
the  societies  increased  in  number,  it  became  necessary 
to  erect  houses  of  worship.  This  work,  so  essential 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  cause,  at  first  went  on  very 
slowly,  particularly  in  the  country  places,  and  often 
some  obscure  site  was  selected,  remote  from  the  cen- 
tre of  population,  where  an  indifferent  building  was 
erected,  thus  sacrificing  convenience  to  a  paltry  eco- 
nomy. This  unwise  policy  began  to  be  injuriously 
felt  in  some  places,  and  means  were  used  to  counter- 
act it ;  but  it  was  with  much  difficulty  that  the  people 
could  be  generally  brought  to  appreciate  the  import- 
ance of  attending  to  this  thing  with  that  liberality  and 
energy  which  its  necessity  demanded. 

It  would  seem,  indeed,  that  many  of  the  members 
of  our  Church  in  some  places  had  been  accustomed 
to  contribute  so  little  for  the  support  of  the  institu- 
tions of  Christianity,  that  they  apparently  cherished  the 
erroneous  idea  that  they  could  be  sustained  almost 
literally  "  without  money  and  without  price."  Hence 
the  tardiness  with  which  they  came  forward  to  build 
houses  of  worship,  and  the  stinted  manner  in  which 
they  contributed  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  and 
ordinances  of  religion. 

These  evils,  perhaps  unavoidable  in  some  cases, 
in  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed,  no 
doubt  prevented  a  more  steady  and  rapid  growth  of 
the  societies  in  many  places,  and  furnished  a  plausible 
excuse  for  the  numerous  locations  we  have  been  com- 
pelled to  record. 

2 


294  A  HISTORY   OF   THE  [1811. 

Another  defect,  and  wliich  arose,  in  some  measure, 
out  of  the  ones  just  mentioned,  was  the  neglecting  to 
occupy  the  young  and  thriving  villages  which  were 
rising  into  being  by  the  hand  of  industry,  in  the  new 
countries.  In  these  countries  the  Methodist  preach- 
ers were  the  gospel  pioneers,  and  for  many  years,  in 
various  places,  the  people  had  no  other  preachers  who 
"  cared  for  their  souls."  They  were  accustomed  to 
go  among  them  in  their  lonely  retreats,  preach  in  their 
log  huts,  hold  their  quarterly  meetings  in  barns  or  in 
the  woods,  and  they  seemed  to  have  been  so  long  ac- 
customed to  this  mode  of  preaching  and  living,  that 
they  almost  forgot,  in  many  instances,  to  provide 
themselves  with  better  accommodations  ;  and  before 
they  were  awar6  of  it,  other  denominations  came, 
took  possession  of  the  villages,  erected  houses  of  wor- 
ship, and  thus  drew  the  weightier  part  of  population 
around  them.  How  much  has  been  lost  to  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  Church  by  this  neglect,  who  can 
tell  ?  Latterly,  however,  a  remedy  has  been,  in  some 
measure  at  least,  provided,  though  it  has  been,  in 
too  many  instances,  after  the  damage  had  been  sus- 
tained, and  we  have  profited  more  by  our  losses  than 
by  prudent  foresight. 

Another  inconvenience  began  to  be  sensibly  felt, 
and  that  was  the  want  of  parsonages  for  the  accom- 
modation of  preachers'  families.  It  is  true  that  the 
General  Conference  of  1800,  at  the  suggestion  of  Dr. 
Coke,  had  passed  a  resolution,  recommending  to  the 
circuits  to  prepare  convenient  houses,  and  to  have 
them  furnished  with  heavy  furniture.  But,  excepting 
some  of  the  larger  cities,  this  recommendation  had 
been  little  heeded,  and  hence  those  preachers  who  had 


1811.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  295 

families  were  obliged  either  to  locate  or  submit  to  the 
inconvenience  of  moving  their  families  to  circuits 
without  having  any  place  provided  for  them,  or  were 
compelled  to  purchase  or  hire  a  permanent  residence 
for  their  families,  and  then  go  wherever  they  might 
be  sent,  however  distant  from  their  residences. 
These  evils  began  to  press  heavily  upon  the  connec- 
tion, and  it  was  plainly  seen  that,  unless  removed, 
must  eventually  very  much  impede,  if  not  entirely 
stop,  the  wheels  of  the  itinerancy. 

In  the  early  days  of  Methodism,  as  most  of  the 
traveling  preachers  were  unmarried,  these  embarrass- 
ments were  not  so  sensibly  realized ;  and  in  most  in- 
stances the  zeal  for  God's  house  so  entirely  "  eat  up'* 
the  cares  of  this  world,  that  those  devoted  men  of 
God  seemed  regardless  of  their  fare,  "  counting  all 
things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge 
of  Christ  Jesus  ;"  for  the  sake  of  winning  souls  to  him 
they  were  willing  to  forego,  not  only  the  riches  and 
honors  of  the  world,  but  also  all  the  endearments  of 
domestic  life. 

At  this  time  the  case  was  somewhat  altered.  Many 
had  families,  some  of  them  large  and  growing.  To  move 
these  from  place  to  place,  without  having  a  house  pre- 
pared to  shelter  them,  was  an  inconvenience,  and  more 
especially  with  the  scanty  allowance  provided  for 
their  support,  to  which  many  thought  themselves  not 
called  to  submit.  This,  no  doubt,  was  one  cause  of 
the  numerous  locations  from  one  year  to  another. 
And  though  the  embarrassments  arising  from  this 
source  are  not  yet  wholly  removed,  yet  the  efforts 
which  began  to  be  put  forth  about  this  time,  and 
which  have   been  continued  with  various  degrees  of 

2 


296  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1811. 

success,  have  supplied  a  partial  remedy,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  the  efforts  will  not  be  slackened  until 
every  station  and  circuit  shall  have  its  parsonage, 
suitably  furnished  and  comfortably  supplied  with  the 
necessaries  of  life. 

But  with  all  these  disadvantages,  many  parts  of  the 
country  were  visited  with  outpourings  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  so  that  the  work  steadily  advanced  both  in  the 
Atlantic  and  in  the  northern  and  western  states. 

This  year  Bishop  Asbury  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence 
into  Upper  Canada.  After  attending  the  New-Eng- 
land conference,  which  assembled  this  year  in  Bar- 
nard, in  the  state  of  Vermont,  he  took  his  departure 
on  his  intended  tour  into  Upper  Canada,  a  place  he 
had  long  desired  to  visit.  On  Wednesday,  June  26th, 
he  crossed  the  Green  Mountains,  visited  Middlebury, 
and  preached  in  the  court  house,  and  afterward  set 
forward  a  subscription  paper  for  building  a  house  of 
worship  in  that  place,  fully  believing,  as  he  said,  that 
*'the  Lord  would  visit  Middlebury."  He  then  passed 
on  through  Vergennes,  Charlotte,  and  Plattsburgh,  in 
each  of  which  places  he  stopped  and  preached,  until 
he  arrived,  after  a  fatiguing  journey  through  the  woods 
and  swampy  roads,  at  the  Indian  village  of  St.  Regis, 
situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  that  name,  which 
empties  into  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  At  this  place 
he  was  ferried  across  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  is  here 
nearly  three  miles  in  width.  The  first  place  he  stopped 
at  was  Evan  Roy's  in  the  town  of  Cornwall,  where 
there  was  a  flourishing  Methodist  Society,  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  province. 

On  landing  in  Canada,  he  says,  '*  My  strong  affec- 
tion for  the  people  of  the  United  States  came  with 


1811.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  297 

Strange  power  upon  me  when  I  was  crossing  tne  line," 
and  he  inquires,  with  much  apparent  feehng,  "  Why 
should  I  have  such  new  feelings  in  Canada  ?"  No 
doubt  that  associations  were  called  up  by  this  visit 
which  he  little  expected  to  realize  in  this  world.  He 
liad  left  his  native  land  in  his  youth — had  struggled 
through  the  difficulties  of  the  revolutionary  war — a 
war  which  eventuated  in  the  severance  of  the  United 
States  from  the  land  of  his  birth — had  lived  to  see 
these  states  rising  and  flourishing,  and  the  Church 
whose  affairs  he  had  been  called  to  superintend,  num- 
bering within  its  bosom  six  hundred  ^nd  thirty-six 
traveling  preachers,  and  174,560  members — and 
now,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  and  fortieth  of 
his  ministry  in  this  country,  he  found  himself  once 
more  under  the  shadow  of  his  paternal  government,  in  a 
distant  province  of  the  empire,  among  a  people  who 
had  been  raised  up  by  his  sons  in  the  gospel,  profess- 
ing the  same  faith  and  adopting  the  same  modes  of 
worship  with  those  with  whom  he  first  united  himself 
in  the  mother  country.  Amid  such  reflections,  how 
could  it  be  otherwise  than  that  "  strange  feelings 
should  come  over"  him  ?  And  more  especially  as  he 
must  then  have  anticipated  the  near  approach  of  ano 
ther  war  between  the  United  States  and  that  govern- 
ment from  which  he  had  expatriated  himself  for  the 
sake  of  building  up  His  kingdom  whose  government 
shall  have  no  end. 

The  bishop  passed  along  up  the  banks  of  the  St 
Lawrence,  stopping  and  preaching  in  the  most  consi- 
derable places,  gathering  information  from  his  own 
observation  and  the  communications  of  others  respect- 
ing the  state  of  things  in  Canada,  until  he  arrived  at 

13*  2 


298  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1811, 

Kingston,  where  he  preached  in  a  new  chapel  the 
people  had  erected  in  that  place.  He  says  : — "  Our 
ride  has  brought  us  through  one  of  the  finest  coun- 
tries I  have  ever  seen.  The  timber  is  of  a  noble 
size  ;  the  cattle  are  well  shaped  and  well  looking ;  the 
crops  are  abundant,  on  a  most  fruitful  soil.  Surely, 
this  is  a  land  that  God  the  Lord  hath  blessed."  And 
of  the  people  he  says  : — "  My  soul  is  much  united  to 
them." 

On  Monday  July  15th,  he  left  Kingston,  and  cross- 
ed the  lake  in  an  open  boat,  in  which  he  says  they 
"  had  a  tremendous  passage,"  to  Sacketts  Harbor. 
After  his  arrival,  he  remarks  : — "  Well,  I  have  been 
to  Canada,  and  find  it  like  all  other  stations  in  the 
extremities — there  are  difficulties  to  overcome,  and 
prospects  to  cheer  us.  Some  of  our  laborers  have 
not  been  so  faithful  and  diligent  as  we  could  wish." 
On  meeting  with  his  colleague  in  the  episcopacy,  he 
says  : — "  My  spirit  rejoiced  on  meeting  with  dear 
Bishop  M'Kendree" — and  they  jointly  attended  the 
Genesee  Conference,  which  assembled  on  the  20th  of 
July  at  Paris,  Oneida  county,  in  the  state  of  New-York. 

From  this  conference  the  bishops  shaped  their  course 
through  the  western  parts  of  New-York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, to  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  and  thence 
through  the  southern  states  ;  preaching  to  the  people, 
and  attending  the  conferences  as  usual.  Speaking  of 
the  South  Carolina  Conference,  Bishop  Asbury  re- 
marks : — "  Scarcely  have  I  seen  such  harmony  and 
love." — "I  received  letters  from  the  extremities,  and 
the  centre  of  our  vast  continent,  all  pleasing,  all  encou- 
raging." 

During  this  long  and  tedious  journey,  the  bishop 
2 


1811.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  299 

speaks  of  suffering  much  from  bodily  affliction,  some- 
times to  that  degree,  from  an  obstinate  inflammation 
in  his  foot,  that  he  could  scarcely  walk,  and  at  other 
times  he  was  obliged  to  desist  from  active  labor  alto- 
gether, not  being  able  either  to  ride  or  preach.  In 
these  seasons,  however,  he  employed  himself  in  read- 
ing, prayer,  and  meditation,  and  in  answering  the  nu- 
merous letters  he  was  almost  daily  receiving  from 
the  presiding  elders  and  others  ;  for  it  may  be  ob- 
served that  it  was  one  part  of  the  duty  of  a  presiding 
elder  to  give  information  to  the  bishops,  once  a  year 
at  least,  of  the  state  of  religion  in  his  district.  This, 
together  with  other  correspondence,  imposed  no  small 
tax  upon  the  time  and  labor  of  the  bishop  to  an- 
swer, as  he  was  in  the  habit  of  doing,  all  these 
letters.  But  in  the  midst  of  all  these  things,  he 
says  : — "  I  limped  about,  sung,  talked,  and  prayed." — 
"  My  consolations  exceedingly  abound,  though  my  suf- 
ferings are  great." — "  Dr.  Coke  says  fifteen  hundred 
miles  in  nine  weeks — I  may  say  sixteen  hundred 
miles  in  sixty  days."  Such  were  episcopal  labors  in 
those  days  ! 

These  extensive  travels  were  less  or  more  the 
practice  of  most  of  the  preachers  in  the  new  coun- 
tries, with  only  this  difference,  that  these  latter  were 
performing  their  regular  round  of  duties  in  a  circuit 
from  two  to  four  hundred  miles  in  circumference, 
once  in  four  weeks.  As  late  as  1810,  according  to 
the  testimony  of  a  writer  in  the  Pittsburgh  Conference 
Journal,  in  the  Monongahela  district,  then  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  Joshua  Monroe,  there  were  eleven  cir- 
cuits, comprehending  all  the  country  from  lake  Erie 
southward,  to  the  head  of  Tyger's  Valley,  and  from 


300  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1811. 

ihe  summit  of  the  Alleghany  mountains  to  the  Ohio 
river,  including  a  portion  of  western  Virginia,  the 
whole  of  western  Pennsylvania,  and  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  north-east  corner  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 
At  that  time  Pittsburgh  was  in  a  circuit  which  em- 
braced Greensburgh,  Somerset,  and  Connellsville,  in 
which  there  were  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  mem- 
bers of  the  Church.  In  Pittsburgh  itself,  in  which 
there  are  now  two  large  churches,  with  a  member- 
ship of  about  one  thousand  three  hundred,  the  Me- 
thodists assembled  at  that  time  in  a  private  room  pre- 
pared for  that  purpose,  and  had  only  about  forty 
church  members,  and  some  of  even  these  were  from 
the  adjacent  country  In  Meadville,  (where  we  now 
have  a  college  and  a  stationed  preacher,)  in  Erie,  Mer- 
cer, and  Franklin,  all  which  were  then  included  in  Erie 
circuit,  there  were  no  societies. 

This  year,  1811,  Erie  circuit  employed  two  preach- 
ers, James  Watts  and  Ja?nes  Ewen,  and  the  number 
of  church  members  had  increased  to  five  hundred  and 
one,  scattered  over  an  extent  of  country  which  now 
includes  several  presiding  elders'  districts. 

The  Pittsburgh  circuit,  which  was  this  year  under 
the  charge  of  James  M.  Hanson,  numbered  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  members,  though  the  Society  in 
the  city  was  still  small.  Within  the  limits  of  these 
two  circuits,  there  is  now  a  large  portion  of  two  an- 
nual conferences,  five  entire  districts,  besides  parts 
of  some  others,  and  not  less  than  twenty-two  thousand 
members  of  the  Church.  So  greatly  has  the  work 
enlarged  in  that  field  which  was  brought  under  cul- 
ture by  those  men  of  God.  It  has  since  been  divided 
and  subdivided  into  smaller  and  more  compact  encio- 


181  l.j  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  301 

sures,  and  put  under  the  care  of  a  proportionate  num- 
ber of  husbandmen,  that  it  might  bring  forth  fruit 
more  abundantly,  and  that  its  fruit  may  remain. 

Forty-five  preachers  located  this  year,  nineteen 
were  returned  supernumerary,  fifteen  superannuated, 
and  two  expelled.  Five,  namely,  Thomas  Daughaday^ 
Thomas  Budd,  William  Keith,  William  Hunt,  and 
Gideon  A.  Knowlton,  ended  their  labors  in  peace, 
leaving  behind  them  many  testimonials  to  their  fidelity 
and  success  in  the  "ministry  of  reconciliation." 

One  trait  in  the  character  of  William  Keith,  men- 
tioned in  the  notice  of  his  death,  is  worthy  of  remem- 
brance and  of  imitation — that  is,  "  clearness  of  con- 
ception, readiness  of  utterance,  and  comprehensiveness 
of  argument.  It  has  often  been  remarked  that  he 
possessed  the  happy  art  of  expressing  much  useful 
matter  in  a  few  well-chosen  words."  It  is  added,  "  The 
happy,  and  sometimes  astonishing  effects  of  his  minis- 
try, demonstrated  that  he  was  sent  by  Jesus  Christ  to 
declare  unto  mankind  the  awful  truths  of  Heaven,  and 
to  beseech  sinners  to  be  reconciled  to  God." 

There  was  indeed  a  sweetness  of  manner,  a  per- 
suasiveness of  argument,  which  accompanied  the  pub- 
lic administrations  of  William  Keith,  that  wrought  upon 
the  heart  of  the  auditor,  attracted  his  attention,  and  won 
his  affection,  in  a  manner  which  he  could  hardly  re- 
sist. His  intelligent  countenance,  the  melody  of  his 
voice,  the  harmony  of  his  sentences,  and  above  all, 
the  apparent  sincerity  with  which  he  spoke,  command- 
ed the  respect  and  inspired  the  confidence  of  all  who 
were  not  prejudiced  against  the  truth  ;  and  even  many 
of  these,  on  hearing  him,  have  been  overcome  by  the 
charming   and   persuasive   eloquence  with  which  he 


302  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1811. 

addressed  them.  He  was,  as  was  most  evident,  deeply 
imbued  with  the  spirit  of  his  Master,  and  this  gave  an 
unction  and  a  pungency  to  all  he  said. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  ministry  he  was  employed 
chiefly  in  western  New- York  ;  and  for  some  cause, 
unknown  to  the  writer,  he  was  induced  to  leave  the  Me- 
thodist Church  and  connect  himself  with  another  com- 
munion. He  very  soon,  however,  repented  of  his  error, 
published  a  recantation,  and  was  most  cordially  read- 
mitted into  the  bosom  of  the  church  of  his  first  love. 
He  could  hardly  ever  forgive  himself  this  step,  but 
adverted  to  it  upon  his  dying  bed  as  a  source  of  grief 
to  his  mind. 

The  two  last  years  of  his  ministry  he  spent  in 
New-York,  and  the  people  appreciated  his  labors 
highly  as  a  faithful  and  useful  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Here  also  he  ended  his  days  with  a  linger- 
ing consumption,  beloved  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him,  leaving  a  testimony  behind  him  more  sa- 
tisfactory than  all  the  gold  of  Ophir — for  he  departed 
in  the  full  hope  of  immortality  and  eternal  life. 

Of  William  Hunt,  it  is  said  that  he  professed  to 
enjoy,  and  exemplified  the  grace  of  "  perfect  love" — 
that  few  excelled  him  in  the  branches  of  learning 
which  he  pursued — that  he  was  thoroughly  versed  in 
the  sacred  Scriptures — sound  in  doctrine,  and  an  ac- 
curate judge  of  gospel  order  and  discipline,  illustrat- 
ing in  his  own  life  the  purity  and  excellence  of  that 
religion  which  he  recommended  to  others. 

In  addition  to  his  exhibiting  the  graces  of  a  Chris- 
tian minister,  it  is  said  of  Gideon  A.  Knowlton  that  he 
was  so  remarkably  distinguished  for  his  punctuality 
in  attending  to  his  appointments,  that  it  became  pro- 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  303 

verbial  among  the  people  in  stormy  weather,  "  It  is 
Knowlton's  appointment ;  he  will  be  there  ;  we  must 
attend."      How  worthy  of  imitation  ! 

Of  Thomas  Budd,  it  is  said  that  he  possessed 
strong  natural  abilities,  had  an  improved  mind,  was 
remarkably  frank  in  his  manner,"  and  of  the  strictest 
integrity  in  all  his  conduct. 

Thomas  Daughaday  was  an  acceptable'  and  useful 
preacher,  manifesting  an  ardent  thirst  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  and  was  an  example  of  meekness  and 
patience  in  his  life,  and  departed  full  of  the  hope  of 
immortality. 

Numbers  in   the    Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.  Preachers. 

This  year         148,835      35,732      184,567      668 
Last  year         139,836      34,724      174,560      636 

Increase  8,999        1,008         10,007         32 


BOOK    V. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  first  Delegated  General  Conference  of  1812. 

We  have  traced  the  progress  of  Methodism  from 
its  origin  to  the  present  period.  We  have  seen  it 
beginning  in  a  small  class  consisting  of  only  five  mem- 
bers in  the  city  of  New-York,  and  under  the  auspices 
of  divine  providence  and  grace,  growing  up  to  a  con- 
siderable society,  and  chiefly  by  the  instrumentality 
of  a  local  preacher  who  had  little  to  recommend  him 
to  public  favor  but  the    sincerity    of  his   zeal,    the 

2 


304  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812 

fervor  of  his  piety,  and  the  influence  he  derived  from 
his  connection  with  such  a  man  as  John  Wesley ;  and 
thence  breaking  out,  under  the  labors  of  Boardman 
and  Pilmoor,  and  the  more  energetic  exertions  of  As- 
bury,  into  circuits  and  quarterly  meeting  conferences ; 
until,  in  imitation  of  the  practice  which  had  obtained 
in  Europe,  a  regular  conference  was  convened  in 
Philadelphia  under  the  superintendence  of  Rankin. 
As  it  continued  to  enlarge  its  dimensions  by  means 
of  the  labors  of  these  men,  their  coadjutors,  and  sue 
cessors,  this  conference  became  divided  and  subdi- 
vided into  several  others,  until  it  was  found  expedient 
to  concentrate  the  councils  of  the  church  in  one  Gene- 
ral Conference,  composed  of  all  the  traveling  elders 
who  might  be  disposed  to  attend. 

As,  however,  the  work  continued  to  expand  in 
every  direction  until  it  became  co-extensive  with  the 
settlements  which  were  spread  over  this  large  coun- 
try, comprehending  the  cities  and  villages,  the  denser 
population  of  the  older  and  the  sparser  settlements  of 
the  new  states  and  territories,  to  prevent  a  useless 
expenditure  of  time,  labor,  and  money,  as  well  as  to 
secure  greater  harmony  in  counsel  and  despatch  of 
business,  it  was  found  necessary  to  lessen  the  number 
who  should  compose  this  General  Conference,  by  se- 
lecting a  specific  number  from  among  the  elders  of 
each  annual  conference.  To  bring  all  the  traveling 
elders  together,  Scattered  as  they  were  among  the 
circuits  and  stations  from  Maine  to  Louisiana,  and 
thence  along  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  Mis- 
souri, and  Ohio,  and  their  tributary  streams  ;  the  shores 
of  lakes  Erie  and  Ontario  and  the  banks  of  the  St 
Lawrence  to  Montreal  and  Quebec,  would  be  involv- 
9^ 


1812.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  305 

ing  an  expense  of  time  and  money  which  neither 
preachers  nor  people  were  able  to  bear,  or  if  able, 
they  could  give  no  reasonable  account  for  such  a 
waste  of  expenditure.  On  the  other  hand,  if  those 
in  the  extreme  parts  of  the  work  were  deterred  from 
attending  the  General  Conference,  on  account  of  the 
difficulties  arising  from  distance  or  poverty,  or  from 
the  hazards  to  the  souls  of  the  people  by  such  a  long 
absence  from  their  charge,  then  the  affairs  of  the 
Church  would  be  left  in  the  hands  of  some  of  the 
most  central  of  the  annual  conferences,  who  might 
not  understand  the  circumstances  and  wants  of  their 
brethren  in  the  exterior  parts  of  the  work.  Every 
consideration,  therefore,  of  justice  and  expediency, 
dictated  the  policy  of  the  measure  which,  in  1808, 
provided  for  a  delegated  General  Conference. 

This  conference  assembled  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1812.  And  as  this 
is  the  first  delegated  General  Conference,  the  reader 
will  doubtless  be  pleased  to  have  the  names  of  the 
delegates,  which  are  here  given  as  they  stand  on  the 
Journal  of  the  conference.      They  are  as  follows : — 

New -York  Conference. 
Freeborn  Garrettson,  Laban  Clark, 

Daniel  Ostrander,  Truman  Bishop, 

Aaron  Hunt,  Eben  Smith, 

WilHam  Phoebus,  Henry  Stead, 

William  Anson,  Billy  Hibbard, 

Nathan  Bangs,  Seth  Crowell, 

Samuel  Merwin. 
New-England  Conference. 
George  Pickering,  Elijah  Hedding, 

Oliver  Beale,  Joshua  Soule, 

2 


306 


A    HISTORY    OF    THE 


[1812. 


William  Stephens,  Solomon  Sias, 

Asa  Kent,  Joel  Winch, 

Daniel  Webb. 
Genesee  Conference. 
William  B.  Lacy,  James  Kelsey, 

Anning  Owen,  Elijah  Batchelor, 

Timothy  Lee,  William  Snow. 

Western  Conference. 


Lawner  Blackman, 
Benjamin  Lakin, 
James  Quinn, 
Frederick  Stier, 
John  Sale, 
WiUiam  Pattison, 


Isaac  Quinn, 
William  Houston, 
John  Collins, 
Samuel  Parker, 
James  Axley, 
David  Young, 


Thomas  Stillwell. 
South  Carolina  Conference. 
Lewis  Myers,  William  M.  Kennedy, 

Lovick  Pierce,  Samuel  Dunwody, 

Joseph  Tarpley,  James  E.  Glenn, 

Daniel  Asbury,  Hilliard  Judge, 

Joseph  Travis. 
Virginia  Conference. 
Jesse  Lee,  James  M.  Boyd, 

Philip  Bruce,  Richard  Lattimore, 

John  Buxton,  Charles  Callaway, 

Thomas  L.  Douglass,         Cannellum  H.  Hines, 
John  Ballew,  William  Jean, 

John  Early. 
Baltimore  Conference. 
Nelson  Reed,  Asa  Shin, 

Joseph  Toy,  Hamilton  Jefferson, 

Joshua  Wells,  Jacob  Gruber, 

Nicholas  Snethen,  Robert  R   Roberts, 

Enoch  George,  William  Ryland, 

2 


1812.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  307 

Christopher  Frye,  Robert  Burch, 

James  Smith,  Henry  Smith, 

Andrew  Hemphill. 
Philadelphia  Conference. 
Ezekiel  Cooper,  David  Bartine, 

John  M'Claskey,  John  Walker, 

Tho.  F.  Sargent,  George  Woolley, 

Stephen  G.  Roszel,  James  Bateman, 

Thomas  Ware,  Thomas  Burch, 

Richard  Sneath,  Michael  Coate, 

Thomas  Boring,  Asa  Smith. 

Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree  were  present,  and 
the  conference  was  opened  by  the  former,  by  reading 
a  portion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  prayer  ;  after 
which  the  names  cf  the  delegates  were  called  by  a  tem- 
porary secretary,  and  they  presented  the  certificates 
of  their  election  by  the  several  annual  conferences. 
This  being  finished,  Daniel  Hitt,  the  book  agent,  not 
being  one  of  the  delegates,  was  elected  secretary. 

This  being  a  delegated  conference,  acting  under 
the  restrictions  imposed  upon  it  by  the  body  by 
which  it  was  constituted,  it  was  found  necessary  to 
frame  a  set  of  new  rules  to  guide  the  members  in 
their  deliberations  and  decisions.  A  committee  was 
accordingly  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  preparing 
rules,  and  a  long  time  was  spent  in  discussing  and 
adopting  them,  and  after  they  were  adopted,  being  an 
abridgment  of  the  congressional  rules  found  in  Jeffer- 
son's Manual,  they  were  to  the  conference  something 
like  Saul's  armor  to  David  :  they  did  not  like  them  ; 
and  they  have  long  since  been  laid  aside  as  not  only 
useless  but  perplexing.  Men  of  plain  common  sense, 
acting  with  a  simple  desire  to  accomplish  the  greatest 


308  A   HISTORY   OF   THE  [1812. 

good  by  the  use  of  llie  best  means,  need  but  a  few- 
plain  and  simple  rules,  easily  understood,  to  guide 
them  in  their  action. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  rules,  and  the  transaction 
of  some  other  preliminary  business,  a  letter  (a  copy 
of  which  I  have  not  been  able  to  find)  from  Dr.  Coke 
was  read  to  the  conference,  expressive  of  his  deter- 
mination to  visit  the  East  Indies  on  a  grand  mission- 
ary enterprise,  and  of  his  unabated  attachment  to  his 
American  brethren."^  After  this,  Bishop  M'Kendree 
presented  the  conference  with  the  following  address, 
which  was  the  first  time  that  either  of  the  presidents 
submitted  his  views  to  the  conference  in  writing  : — 

"  To  the   General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  71010  assembled  in  the  city  of  New -York. 

*'  Dear  Brethren  : — My  relation  to  you,  and  the  con- 
nection in  general,  seems,  in  my  opinion,  to  make  it  neces- 
sary that  I  should  address  you  in  some  way,  by  which  you 
may  get  possession  of  some  information,  perhaps  not  other- 
wise to  be  obtained  by  many  of  you. 

"  It  is  now  four  years  since,  by  your  appointment,  it  be- 
came my  duty  jointly  to  superintend  our  extensive  and 
very  important  charge.  With  anxious  solicitude,  and  good 
wishes,  I  have  looked  forward  to  this  General  Conference. 
The  appointed  time  is  come,  and  the  Lord  has  graciously 
permitted  us  to  meet  according  to  appointment,  for  which 
I  hope  we  are  prepared  jointly  to  praise  and  adore  his 
goodness. 

*  As  I  speak  from  memory  only,  I  may  have  mistaken  the 
contents  of  this  letter,  but  think  I  am  correct.  The  letter,  I 
believe,  was  addressed  to  Bishop  Asbury,  which,  doubtless,  is 
the  reason  why  it  is  not  found  among  the  documents  of  the 
conference. 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  309 

"  Upon  examination,  you  will  find  the  work  of  the  Lord 
is  prospering  in  our  hands.  Our  important  charge  has 
greatly  increased  since  the  last  General  Conference  :  we 
have  had  an  increase  of  nearly  forty  thousand  members. 
At  present,  we  have  about  one  hundred  and  ninety  thou- 
sand members,  upward  of  two  thousand  local,  and  about 
seven  hundred  traveling  preachers,  in  our  connection,  and 
these  widely  scattered  over  seventeen  states,  besides  the 
Canadas  and  several  of  the  territorial  settlements. 

"  Thus  situated,  it  must  be  expected,  in  the  present  state 
of  things,  that  the  counsel  and  direction  of  your  united 
wisdom  will  be  necessary  to  preserve  the  harmony  and 
peace  of  the  body,  as  well  as  co-operation  of  the  traveling 
and  local  ministry,  in  carrying  on"  the  blessed  work  of 
reformation  which  the  Lord  has  been  pleased  to  effect, 
through  our  instrumentality.  To  deserve  the  confidence 
of  the  local  ministry  and  membership,  as  well  as  to  retain 
confidence  in  ourselves,  and  in  each  other,  is  undoubtedly 
our  duty  ;  and  if  we  consider  that  those  who  are  to  con- 
fide in  us  are  a  collection  from  all  classes  and  descriptions 
from  all  countries  of  which  the  nation  is  composed,  pro- 
miscuously scattered  over  this  vast  continent,  men  who 
were  originally  of  different  educations,  manners,  habits, 
and  opinions,  we  shall  see  the  difficulty  as  well  as  the  im- 
portance of  this  part  of  our  charge. 

"  In  order  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  peace  and  union 
among  us,  we  must  '  love  one  another  ;'  but  this  cannot 
abide  where  confidence  does  not  exist ;  and  purity  of  in- 
tention, manifested  by  proper  actions,  is  the  very  founda- 
tion and  support  of  confidence  ;  thus,  '  united,  we  stand  ;' 
each  member  is  a  support  to  the  body,  and  the  body  sup- 
ports each  member  ;  but  if  confidence  fails,  love  will  grow 
cold,  peace  will  be  broken,  and  '  divided,  we  fall.'  It  there- 
fore becomes  this  body,  which,  by  its  example,  is  to  move 
the  passions  and  direct  the  course  of  thousands  of  minis- 

2 


310  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812 

ters,  and  tens  of  thousands  of  members,  to  pay  strict  atten- 
tion to  the  simplicity  of  gospel  manners,  and  to  do  every 
thing  as  in  the  immediate  presence  of  God.  If  we  con- 
sider the  nature  of  our  business,  and  the  influence  of  civil 
governments,  and  political  measures,  it  will  hardly  be  ex- 
pected that  every  individual  in  so  large  a  body  as  you 
form  will  continually  be  sufficiently  and  strictly  evangel- 
ical in  all  cases  ;  it  is  therefore  hoped  in  cases  of  failure, 
that  the  wisdom  and  firmness  of  your  united  prudence  as 
a  body  will  counteract  evil  effects  by  a  well-ordered  and 
prudent  disapprobation  and  better  example.  Church  and 
state  should  never  be  assimilated. 

"  Connected  as  I  am  with  you,  and  the  connection  in 
general,  I  feel  it  a  part  of  my  duty  to  submit  to  your  con- 
sideration the  appointment  of  the  Genesee  Conference  ; 
and  perhaps  it  may  be  for  the  general  good,  if,  in  your 
wisdom  you  should  think  proper  to  take  into  consideration 
a  division  of  the  work  in  the  western  country,  and  a  proper 
arrangement  of  the  work  in  general ;  and  the  magnitude 
and  extent  of  the  work  which  the  Lord  has  graciously 
pleased  to  prosper  in  our  hands,  may  make  it  proper  for 
you  to  inquire  if  the  work  is  sufficiently  within  the  over- 
sight of  the  superintendency,  and  to  make  such  arrange- 
ments and  provision  as  your  wisdom  may  approve.  I 
would  also  suggest  the  necessity  of  keeping  in  view, 
not  only  the  traveling,  but  the  relation  and  situation  of  our 
local  brethren  ;  and  to  pursue  that  plan  which  may  render 
the  whole  the  most  useful ;  and  it  may  also  be  proper  to 
bring  into  view  any  unfinished  business  (if  any)  which  we 
had  under  consideration  at  our  last  General  Conference. 
Hitherto,  as  a  body,  we  have  been  preserved,  by  our  well- 
digested  system  of  rules,  which  are  as  sinews  to  the  body, 
and  form  the  bonds  of  our  union.  But  it  is  evident,  both 
from  Scripture  and  experience,  that  men,  even  good  men, 
may  depart  from  first  principles  and  the  best  of  rules  ;  it 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  311 

may  therefore  be  proper  for  you  to  pay  some  attention  to 
the  administration,  to  know  the  state  both  of  the  traveUng 
and  local  ministry,  as  it  relates  to  doctrine,  discipline,  and 
practice. 

"  Before  I  conclude,  permit  me,  my  dear  brethren,  to 
express  a  few  thoughts  concerning  the  view  I  have  of  the 
relation  in  which  I  stand  connected  with  this  body.  It  is 
only  by  virtue  of  a  delegated  power  from  the  General  Con- 
ference, that  I  hold  the  reins  of  government.  I  consider 
myself  bound  by  virtue  of  the  same  authority  to  exercise 
discipline  in  perfect  conformity  to  the  rules  of  the  Church, 
to  the  best  of  my  ability  and  judgment.  I  consider  my- 
self justly  accountable,  not  for  the  system  of  government, 
but  for  my  administration,  and  ought  therefore  to  be  ready 
to  answer  in  General  Conference  for  past  conduct,  and  be 
willing  to  receive  information  and  advice,  to  perfect  future 
operations :  and  I  wish  my  brethren  to  feel  themselves 
perfectly  easy  and  at  liberty. 

"  I  shall  take  the  liberty  here  to  present  my  grateful 
acknowledgments  for  the  high  degree  of  confidence  which 
my  beloved  brethren  have  placed  in  me,  and  especially  for 
the  able  counsel  and  seasonable  support  afforded  by  many, 
which  has,  I  believe,  with  the  divine  aid,  preserved  and 
supported  me.  Dear  brethren,  such  are  the  effects  of  our 
high  responsibility,  connected  with  a  consciousness  of  the 
msufficiency  of  my  talents  for  so  great  a  work,  that  I  move 
with  trembling.  Your  eyes  and  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  are 
upon  me  for  good.  We  shall  rejoice  together  to  see  the 
armies  of  Israel  wisely  conducted  in  all  their  ranks,  carry- 
ing the  triumphs  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth ;  and  the  Lord  will  rejoice  to  make  his  min- 
isters a  flame  of  fire.  In  you  I  have  confidence,  and  on 
you  I  depend  for  aid,  and  above  all,  I  trust  in  divine  aid. 
Influenced  by  these  considerations,  and  with  my  situation 
in  full  view,  I  cannot  entertain  a  thought  of  bearing  such 

3 


812  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812. 

awful  accountability  longer  than  I  am  persuaded  my  ser- 
vices are  useful  to  the  Church  of  God,  and  feel  a  confi- 
dence of  being  aided  by  your  counsel  and  support,  which 
is  with  you  to  give  in  any  way  or  form  you  judge  proper. 
And  while  I  join  with  you,  my  dear  brethren,  in  pure  gos- 
pel simplicity,  to  commit  and  recommend  ourselves  and 
our  several  charges  to  the  special  care  of  the  great  Head 
of  the  Church,  I  remain,  with  sentiments  of  love  and  con- 
fidence, your  servant  in  the  gospel  of  Christ, 

"  Wm.  M'Kendree. 
''New-York,  May  5th,  1812." 

This  address  was  referred  to  appropriate  commit- 
tees, after  which  Bishop  Asbury,  addressing  himself 
extemporaneously  to  Bishop  M'Kendree,  and  through 
him  to  the  conference,  gave  a  historical  sketch  of 
the  rise  and  progress  of  Methodism  in  this  country, 
its  present  state  and  prospects,  and  concluded  by 
urging  upon  the  General  Conference  the  expediency 
of  increasing  the  number  of  annual  conferences  for 
the  convenience  of  the  preachers,  and  as  a  measure 
of  economy  to  the  whole  Church  ;  and  the  committees 
were  instructed  to  take  these  matters  into  considera- 
tion, in  connection  with  the  several  portions  of  Bishop 
M'Kendree's  address. 

After  a  full  interchange  of  thoughts  in  reference  to 
adding  one  more  to  the  number  of  bishops,  as  recom- 
mended by  Bishop  M'Kendree,  as  it  was  understood 
he  intended  by  the  question  "  whether  the  work  is  suf- 
ficiently within  the  oversight  of  the  superintendency," 
the  committee  reported  that  they  "  did  not  see  their 
way  clear  to  recommend  any  alteration  or  additions," 
which  was  concurred  in  by  the  conference. 

Bishop  Asbury  had,  previous  to  the  session  of  this 
1  2 


18i2j  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH  313 

conference,  expressed  a  desire  once  more  to  visit  his 
native  land,  from  which  he  had  now  been  absent  about 
forty-one  years  ;  and  in  his  communication  to  the  con- 
ference he  requested  them  to  give  him  their  advice 
on  the  propriety  of  his  doing  it  soon  after  the  ad- 
journment of  conference.  The  committee  on  the 
episcopacy,  having  reported  against  increasing  the 
number  of  bishops,  say  in  reference  to  this  subject: — 
"  It  is  our  sincere  desire  and  request,  that  Bishop  As- 
bury  would  relinquish  his  thoughts  of  visiting  Europe, 
and  confine  his  labors  to  the  American  connection  so 
long  as  God  may  preserve  his  hfe."  In  this  the  confer- 
ence fully  concurred,  and  the  bishop  cheerfully  relin- 
quished his  design. 

In  regard  to  creating  the  Genesee  conference,  re- 
specting which  some  had  demurred  on  account  of  the 
illegality  of  the  measure,  as  they  alleged,  the  confer- 
ence voted  in  its  favor,  and  thus  justified  the  bishops 
In  what  they  had  done  in  the  premises. 

In  respect  to  the  division  of  the  work  in  the 
western  country,  which  was  earnestly  recommend- 
ed by  both  the  bishops,  the  conference  consented  to 
divide  the  Western  conference  into  two,  to  be  called 
the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  conferences  ;  the  former  to 
comprehend  the  Salt  river,  Kentucky,  Miami,  and 
Muskingum  districts  ;  the  latter,  the  Holston,  Nash- 
ville, Cumberland,  Wabash,  and  Illinois  districts ;  and 
then  gave  authority  to  the  bishops,  in  the  interval  of 
the  General  Conference,  if  they  should  find  it  neces- 
sary, to  establish  another  conference  down  the  Missis- 
sippi, provided  that  no  circuit  or  district  shall  be  in- 
corporated in  such  conference,  without  its  consent — 
a  precaution  that  marks  the  jealousy  with  which  the 

Vol.  II.-— 14. 


314  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812. 

General  Conference  guarded  the  rights  of  annual 
conferences,  against  what  they  considered  the  en- 
croachments of  episcopal  prerogative — and  also  a 
disposition,  frequently  exemplified  before,  to  compre- 
hend as  large  a  territory  as  possible  within  the  bounds 
of  each  annual  conference,  however  inconvenient  it 
might  be  to  preachers  and  people — a  mistaken  policy, 
it  is  believed,  which  has  been  since  gradually  rectified. 

The  most  important  act  of  this  General  Conference 
was  the  making  local  deacons  eligible  to  the  office  of 
elders.  This  measure  elicited  a  very  strong  debate, 
in  which  the  talent  of  the  most  able  members  was 
brought  into  requisition,  both  for  and  against  it.  Those 
who  were  in  favor  of  the  measure,  contended  that  the 
services  of  such  were  needed  in  the  various  parts  of 
the  work,  where  the  number  of  traveling  elders  were 
few,  to  administer  the  ordinances  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  and  to  perform  the  ceremony  of  mar- 
riage and  burial  of  the  dead  ; — that  being  recognized 
by  our  church  as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  they  were 
also  entitled,  equally  with  their  traveling  brethren,  to 
full  powers  as  elders  in  the  Church  of  God  ; — and,  as 
conferring  them  would  add  dignity  and  importance  to 
their  character,  it  would  also  increase  their  useful- 
ness, and  consequently  attach  them  more  strongly  to 
their  traveling  brethren. 

To  this  it  was  answered  that  the  ordination  service 
implied  a  covenant  transaction,  in  which  the  person 
receiving  orders  took  upon  himself  the  charge  of  the 
flock  of  Christ,  which  a  local  elder  in  our  Church 
could  not  do,  and  therefore  could  not  fulfil  his  cove- 
nant obligations,  inasmuch  as  he  did  not,  nor  could  he 
as  a  mere  local  minister,  devote  himself  exclusively 


1812.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  315 

to  the  work  of  the  ministry ; — that  as  to  the  right  he 
had  to  full  orders,  we  must  distinguish  belweeu  origi- 
nal, unalienable,  and  acquired  rights,  belwecn  civil, 
political,  and  ecclesiastical  rights.  As  to  original  or 
natural  right,  no  one  pretended  that  a  local  or  any 
otlier  preacher  had  it ; — as  to  acquired,  according  to 
the  economy  of  our  Church  he  could  not  acquire  it, 
because  no  such  provision  had  been  made  as  the  re- 
ward of  services,  however  meritorious,  this  being  re- 
served  for  traveling  preachers  alone,  who  sacrificed 
their  all  of  temporal  emolument  and  devoted  them- 
selves entirely  to  the  service  of  the  Church  ; — as  to 
civil  or  political  right,  he  could  claim  none,  as  the 
civil  polity  of  our  country  did  not  interfere  in  reli- 
gious matters  at  all  ; — and  therefore  it  only  remained 
to  inquire  whether  our  local  deacons  had  an  ecclesi- 
astical right  to  the  order  of  elders  ;  and  this  was  the 
very  question  at  issue,  and  therefore  they  could  have 
none  until  it  be  given  to  them  by  the  Church  to  which 
they  belong.  The  question  then  must  be  decided,  it 
was  contended,  on  the  principles  of  expediency  and 
the  probable  utility  of  the  measure  ;  and  the  majority 
finally  decided  that  the  privilege  ought  to  be  granted 
them  on  this  ground — they  might  he  needed^  and 
might  therefore  he  useful. 

Having  thus  decided  in  favor  of  granting  them 
elders'  orders,  the  following  regulations  were  adopted 
as  the  conditions  on  w^iich  the  bishops  were  permitted 
to  confer  them,  which  show  plainly  that  this  privilege 
was  granted  solely  on  the  presumption  that  in  every 
case  where  ordinations  of  this  character  were  allowed, 
there  was  an  imperious  call  for  the  services  of  such 
elders,  and  not  because  they  could  claim  them  as  a 

2 


3J6  A   HISTORY    OF   THE  [1812. 

right  originating  from   their  relation  to  the  Church 
The  regulations  were  as  follows  : — 

"  A  local  deacon  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  an  el- 
der, and  on  the  following  regulations  and  restrictions, 
viz.,  he  shall  have  preached  four  years  from  the  time  he 
vs^as  ordained  a  deacon  ;  and  shall  obtain  a  recommenda- 
tion of  two-thirds  from  the  quarterly  conference  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  signed  by  the  president  and  countersign- 
ed by  the  secretary,  certifying  his  qualifications  in  doc- 
trine, discipline,  talents,  and  usefulness  ;  and  the  neces- 
sity of  the  official  services  of  such  local  elder  in  the  cir- 
cuit where  he  resides.  He  shall,  if  he  cannot  be  present, 
send  to  the  annual  conference  a  note  certifying  his  behef 
in  the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  our  Church :  the  whole 
being  examined  and  approved  by  the  annual  conference, 
he  shall  be  ordained.  Provided  that  no  slaveholder  shall 
be  eligible  to  the  office  of  local  elder,  in  any  state  or  ter- 
ritory where  the  civil  laws  will  admit  emancipation,  and 
suffer  the  liberated  slave  to  enjoy  his  freedom." 

The  following  item  was  added  to  the   section  re 
specting  the  settlement  of  disputes  which  might  arise 
among  brethren  in  the  Church  : — 

''  Whenever  a  complaint  is  made  against  any  member  of 
our  church  for  the  nonpayment  of  debt :  when  the  accounts 
are  adjusted,  and  the  amount  properly  ascertained,  the 
preacher  having  the  charge  shall  call  the  debtor  before  a 
committee  of  at  least  three,  to  say  why  he  does  not  make 
payment  ;  and  if  further  time  is  requested,  the  committee 
shall  determine  whether  it  ought  to  be  granted,  and  what 
security,  or  if  any,  should  be  given,  to  secure  the  payment ; 
and  in  case  the  debtor  should  refuse  to  comply,  he  shall 
be  expelled  :  but  in  such  case  shall  have  the  privilege  of 
appealing  to  the  quarterly  meeting  conference,  who  shall 
2 


1812.]  METHCfDIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  317 

decide  on  the  case,  and  their  decision  shall  be  final.  And 
in  case  the  creditor  shall  complain  that  justice  is  not  done 
him,  he  shall  have  the  privilege  of  laying  his  grievance 
before  the  quarterly-meeting  conference,  who  shall  decide 
on  the  case,  and  the  decision  shall  be  final ;  and  in  case 
the  creditor  refuse  to  comply,  he  shall  be  expelled." 

The  necessity  of  publishing  a  periodical  work  was 
strongly  urged  upon  this  conference  by  some  of  its 
leading  members,  and  strenuously  opposed  by  others. 
The  subject  was  referred  to  the  consideration  of  the 
committee  on  the  Book  Concern,  and  they  finally  re- 
commended, and  the  conference  concurred,  "  That 
the  book  agents  be  directed  to  resume  the  publication 
of  the  Methodist  Magazine,  two  volumes  having  been 
published"  (namely,  in  1789  and  1790)  "to  com- 
mence publishing  the  third  volume  at  farthest  by  Jan- 
uary next."  And  with  a  view  to  secure  this  object, 
an  additional  agent  was  appointed,  Daniel  Hitt  being 
re-elected  the  principal,  and  Thomas  Ware  the  as- 
sistant agent.  The  mandate  of  the  conference,  how- 
ever, was  never  obeyed,  and  unhappily  for  the  litera- 
ture and  character  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
we  had  no  Magazine,  nor  scarcely  any  publication  of 
American  growth,  until  1818,  when  the  Methodist 
Magazine  was  recommenced. 

This  is  the  more  to  be  regretted,  because  it  occa- 
sions a  dearth  of  materials  for  such  a  history  of  this 
period  as  is  most  desirable,  and  which  is  now  most 
painfully  felt.  For  though  some  numbers  of  the  Ma- 
gazine abound  in  rich  material  for  history,  espe- 
cially those  sketches  furnished  by  Theophilus  Armi- 
nius  and  some  others,  to  which  I  have  been  much 
indebted  for  many  facts  and  graphic  descriptions  of 

2 


318  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812. 

Methodism  in  the  west,  yet  these  and  others  of  a 
similar  character  generally  terminate  about  the  year 
1812,  and  we  in  vain  look  for  anything  satisfactory 
out  of  the  ordinary  records  of  the  Church,  from  that 
time  to  about  the  year  1820.  This  period,  therefore, 
quite  contrary  to  my  expectations  when  I  commenced 
writing,  seems  to  be  the  most  barren  of  interesting 
incidents  and  those  historical  details  which  are  essen- 
tial to  render  history  engaging  and  edifying,  of  any 
period  of  our  Church. 

During  a  number  of  years,  it  appears  that  educa 
tion  of  all  sorts,  as  well  as  writing  for  the  public  eye, 
was  laid  aside  as  useless,  and  we  seem  to  have  come 
to  the  strange  conclusion  that  we  had  nought  else  to 
do  but  simply  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  attend  to 
those  other  duties  connected  with  the  pastoral  office, 
in  order  to  insure  the  blessing  of  God  on  our  labors  ; 
hence  the  Magazine  had  been  discontinued  for  more 
than  twenty  years,  and  scarcely  anything  issued  from 
our  press  except  what  was  imported  from  Europe, 
and  much  of  this,  even,  was  brought  before  the  pub- 
lic through  other  mediums.^     Here  and  there  a  small 

*  It  is  true  we  had  a  book-room,  and  the  books  which  had 
been  issued  from  it  from  time  to  time  had  done  much  good  ; 
but  to  show  the  meager  state  of  this  concern  about  this  time, 
I  will  append  a  list  of  all  the  variety  of  books  which  were  on 
sale  or  issued  from  our  press,  as  I  find  it  in  Crowther's  Por- 
traiture of  Methodism  in  1813,  together  with  the  price  of  each 
volume  : — 

"  Coke's  Commentary  on  New  Testament,        -       $20  OOf 

Wesley's  Notes  on  do.          -          -           3  00 

Wesley's  Sermons,  9  vols.,  -          -          -     6  50 

Wood's  Dictionary,  2   do.  -          -          -          5  00 

t  This  was  imported  from  Europe,  though   afterward  re 
published  in  this  country. 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  31*^ 

pamphlet  made  its  appearance,  but  only  to  disappear 
generally  before  it  had  time  to  breathe  the  breath  of 
life  ;  for  it  seemed  to  be  taken  for  granted  that  Ame- 
rican Methodists  were  doomed  to  that  state  of  non- 
age which  unfitted  them  to  instruct  one  another 
through  the  medium  of  the  press. 

It  is  true  that  a  few  sighed  over  this  state  of  things 
in  secret,  and  sometimes  vented  their  feelings  to  each 
other,  in  accents  of  sorrow  and  regret,  but  they  almost 
despaired  of  obtaining  redress.  It  was  this  feeling 
which  prompted  them  to  bring  this  subject  before  the 
General  Conference  in  1812;  but  though  they  suc- 

Fletcher's  Checks,   6  vols.,  -  -  -    $5   00 

Benson's  Life  of  Fletcher,  -  -  -  1    00 

Portraiture  of  Methodism,       -  -  -  -       1    00 

Experience  of  several  eminent  Methodist  preachers, 
2  vols.,  $1  each,  -  _  . 

The  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest, 

Methodist  Hymns,  2  vols,  bound  together, 

Law's  Serious  Call  to  a  Holy  Life, 

Experience  and  Letters  of  Hester  A.  Rogers, 

Fletcher's  Appeal,  -  -  -  . 

Abbott's  Life,  _  _  .  .  . 

Alleine's  Alarm  and  Baxter's  Call. 

Family  Adviser  and  Primitive  Physic, 

Methodist  Discipline,      -  -  -  . 

Extract  from  John  Nelson's  Journal,    - 

Watters'  Life,       .         _  _         _  _ 

Confessions  of  James  Lackington, 

Truth  Vindicated,       _  _  -  _ 

Thomas  a  Kempis,  -  .  _ 

Mrs.  Rowe's  Devout  Exercises,  abridged, 

A  Scriptural  Catechism,       _  _         _         . 

And  in  this  list,  the  whole  of  which — that  is,  a  copy  of  each 
volume — independently  of  Coke's  Commentary,  which  was  im- 
ported— might  be  purchased  for  $29  75,  there  are  but  three 
American  publications,  namely,  Abbotts'  and  Watters'  Life,  and 
he   Scriptural  Catechism.    Nor  vi^as   it  possible,  under  the 

2 


2 

00 

1 

00 

00 

87.! 

00 

75" 

00 

75 

00 

75 

00 

75 

00 

50 

00 

50 

00 

37', 

00 

37| 

00 

37^ 

00 

25 

00 

311 

00 

3li 

00 

25 

00 

6^ 

320  A   HISTORY    OF   THE  [1812 

ceeded  in  getting  a  bare  majority  so  far  to  second  their 
views  as  to  order  the  resumption  of  the  Methodist 
Magazine,  yet  such  was  the  general  apathy  on  this 
subject,  that  the  agents  either  refused  to  obey  the 
order  of  the  conference,  or  could  not  obtain  sufficient 
encouragement  to  justify  them  in  the  enterprise  ;  and 
either  alternative  proves  a  lamentable  state  of  things 
in  regard  to  literature  and  science  among  us  at  that 
lime. 

One  consequence  resulting  from  this  inertness  in 
reference  to  periodical  Hterature  and  other  branches 
of  mental  improvement,  was,  that  when  assailed  by 
our  adversaries — and  this  was  not  unfrequently  the 
case — -we  had  no  adequate  means  of  defence;  and 
hence  the  reading  public  were  left  to  draw  their  infer- 
ences respecting  Methodist  doctrine  and  economy 
from  the  distorted  representations  of  those  who  felt  it 
a  duty  to  caricature  or  present  us  in  a  false  position. 
These  things  were  irksome,  yet  they  were  unavoida- 
ble under  the  circumstances. 

From  these  humiliating  facts  it  became  proverbial 
that  the  "  Methodists  were  enemies  to  learning,"  and 
it  must  be  confessed  that  there  was  too  much  reason 

circumstances — for  to  our  certain  knowledge  several  attempts 
were  made — to  increase  the  variety;  such  was  the  low  state 
of  feeling  in  the  heads  of  the  department,  and  the  apathy  in 
general  on  the  subject  of  literature  in  our  Church  at  that 
period.  And  be  it  remembered  that  the  above  books  had  been 
issued  so  repeatedly  without  adding  anything  to  the  variety, 
that  it  is  believed  if  the  Concern  had  gone  on  at  this  rate  much 
longer,  it  would  have  run  down  for  want  of  pecuniary  support. 
The  improvement,  however,  so  much  needed  in  this  depart- 
ment, begun  soon  after,  and  has  been  gradually  increasing  ever 
since,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  account  given  of  this  establish- 
ment in  a  subsequent  chapter. 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  321 

for  the  taunting  remark  ;  and  it  was  not  without  much 
labor  that  the  reproach  has  been,  in  some  measure  at 
least,  rolled  away  from  us. 

The  fact  is,  that  the  destruction  of  Cokesbury  Col- 
lege, and  the  failure  in  attempting  to  establish  district 
schools  and  academies,  seemed  to  throw  a  damper 
upon  the  spirits  of  those  who  had  abetted  learning, 
and  to  furnish  those  who  were  either  inimical  or  in- 
diiferent  to  its  interests  with  arguments  against  it; 
while  the  bungling  attempts  of  some,  who  prematurely 
sent  their  ill-digested  effusions  into  the  world,  disgust- 
ed all  men  of  correct  taste  and  wise  discernment  with 
their  puerile  productions.  These  causes  operated 
conjointly  to  frustrate  all  attempts  to  revive  the  spirits 
of  those  who  felt  the  necessity  of  furnishing  our 
brethren  and  friends  with  that  character  of  literature 
which  the  state  of  the  Church  and  of  society  gene- 
rally imperiously  demanded. 

Add  to  this,  as  an  apology  for  the  neglect,  that  many 
of  our  preachers  were  most  assiduously  engaged  in 
the  frontier  settlements,  preaching  the  gospel  of  the 
kingdom  to  the  poor  in  log  huts,  and  had  therefore  nei- 
ther the  time  nor  the  means  to  devote  to  literary  pur- 
suits ;  and  it  seemed  to  others,  that  all  the  pecuniary 
means  at  command  were  needed  to  supply  the  im- 
mediate wants  of  those  who  were  thus  engaged  in 
winning  souls  to  Jesus  Christ  from  among  the  out- 
casts of  men.  In  this  most  praiseworthy  work  they 
were  eminently  blessed. 

But  whatever  may  have  been  the  cause,  or  how 
reasonable  soever  may  have  been  the  excuse,  for  suf- 
fering ourselves  to  be  for  so  long  a  time  destitute  of 
a  medium  of  instruction  and  information,  and  of  mu- 
14*  2 


322  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1C12. 

tual  edification,  such  arc  the  facts  in  the  case,  and 
sucli  are  their  consequences  upon  this  portion  of  the 
Church's  history.  That  a  brighter  day  has  dawned 
upon  us  in  this  respect  is  matter  of  congratulation 
among  all  the  friends  of  the  Church,  of  religion,  sci- 
ence, and  morals.  • 

In  1810  Mr.  Lee's  History  of  the  Methodists 
made  its  appearance  ;  but  it  by  no  means  satisfied  the 
friends  of  the  cause,  and  the  General  Conference  of 
1808,  to  which  ihe  manuscript  was  submitted,  had 
reported  adverse  to  iis  merits.  To  secure,  therefore, 
a  more  perfect  history  of  the  Church  was  the  anxious 
desire  of  Bishop  Asbury  and  many  others.  To  effect 
this  object  the  subject  had  been  submitted  to  the  an- 
nual conferences,  and  they  had  appointed  some  mem- 
bers of  their  own  body  to  collect  facts  and  historical 
incidents  for  a  future  history,  and  to  bring  or  forward 
them  to  this  General  Conference.  Some  few  were 
presented,  and  they  were  referred  to  a  committee  to 
examine  and  report  thereon.  On  examination  it  was 
found  that  though  some  of  the  facts  collected  were 
valuable,  yet,  on  the  whole,  they  were  considered 
meagre  and  unsatisfactory.  This  appears  evident 
from  the  following  remark  of  the  committee  : — 

"We  are  of  opinion  that  the  letters  submitted  to 
us  for  examination  contain  some  valuable  information, 
and  good  materials  for  a  history  of  Methodism,  as  far 
as  they  go  ;  but  w^e  think  they  are  not  sufficiently 
full  on  different  points." 

After  this  the  committee  go  on  to  state  their  views 
of  the  sort  of  materials  which  they  considered  essen- 
tial to  form  a  complete  history,  such  as  accounts  of 
the  state  of  the  country  and  the  time  when  Methodism 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  323 

was  introduced ;  its  difficulties  and  success ;  biographi- 
cal sketches  of  eminent  preachers  and  others,  &c.,  &c.; 
and  then  thc)^  recommend  that  each  annual  conference 
should  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to  collect  the 
needful  information,  directing  that  the  presiding  elders 
and  preachers  be  instructed  to  aid  in  this  work  ;  and 
then  the  New-York  conference  was  authorized  to  en- 
gage a  historian  to  digest  and  arrange  the  materials 
thus  furnished,  and  prepare  them  for  the  press.  In 
this  report  the  conference  fully  concurred. 

All  this  was  very  well.  But  like  many  other  good 
schemes  which  are  never  executed,  merely  because 
left  to  many  hands,  without  any  individual  who  should 
be  responsible  for  its  execution,  this  proved  an  abor- 
tion. Nothing  effectual  was  ever  done  in  the  pre- 
mises. Yet  the  adoption  of  this  report  by  the  General 
Conference  had  its  use.  It  no  doubt  served  to  direct 
the  attention  of  individuals  to  this  subject,  and  to  call 
forth  the  talents  of  those  brethren  who  have  at  differ- 
ent times  since  written  those  sketches  of  Methodism 
to  which  the  present  history  is  much  indebted. 

The  following  clause  was  added  to  the  section  on 
the  legal  settlement  of  church  property  : — 

"  But  each  annual  conference  is  authorized  to  make  such 
modification  in  the  deeds  as  they  may  find  the  different 
usages  and  customs  of  law  require  in  the  different  states 
or  territories,  so  as  to  secure  the  premises  firmly,  by  deed, 
and  permanently,  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  ac- 
cording to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  following 
form  of  a  deed  of  settlement,  any  thing  in  the  said  form  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding." 

The  conference   ordered  that  every  "  local  elder, 

2 


324  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812. 

deacon,  and  preacher  shall  have  his  name  recorded 
on  the  journal  of  the  quarterly  meeting  conference  of 
which  he  is  a  member." 

Hitherto  the  stewards  of  the  circuits  had  been  ap 
pointed  by  the  preacher  in  charge  ;  but  this  confer 
ence  resolved  that  the  nomination  of  the  preacher 
should  be  submitted  to  the  quarterly-meeting  confer- 
ence, for  its  concurrence  or  rejection,  and  likewise 
made  the  stewards  amenable  to  said  conference  for 
their  official  conduct. 

A  memorial  having  been  presented  from  the  quar- 
terly meeting  conference  in  the  city  of  New-York, 
praying  the  General  Conference  to  adopt  some  means 
to  raise  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  the  members  of  confer- 
ence, it  was  resolved,  after  considerable  discussion, 

"That  each  annual  conference  shall  be  authorized  to 
raise,  if  they  think  proper,  a  fund,  as  in  their  wisdom  they 
shall  see  fit,  to  be  considered  a  fund  for  the  relief  of  the 
wives,  widows,  and  children  of  traveling  preachers,  and 
also  for  the  relief  of  supernumerary  and  superannuated 
preachers,  and  affording  supplies  for  missionary  purposes." 

This  is  the  first  action  which  I  have  found  on  the 
records  of  the  conference  especially  regarding  missions ; 
and  the  reason  is,  not  because  the  conference  was  at 
any  time  indifferent  to  the  situation  of  those  portions 
of  the  country  which  were  destitute  of  the  gospel,  but 
because  the  whole  system  of  Methodism  had  been  very 
justly  considered  missionary  in  its  character  from  the 
beginning  ;  but  now  so  many  inconveniences,  not  to 
say  suffering  embarrassments,  had  been  realized  from 
the  poverty  of  the  preachers,  and  also  of  the  people 
in  the  new  settlements,  that  the  attention  of  some  had 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  325 

become  awakened  to  the  importance  of  aifording  pe- 
cuniary  relief,  more  effectually  than  it  could  be  in  the 
ordinary  way,  to  those  who  were  thus  destitute,  and 
lo  those  who  were  willing  and  desirous  to  supply 
them  with  the  ordinances  of  religion.  And  though 
this  was  but  an  incipient  step,  it  led  finally  to  more  im- 
portant results,  which  will  be  noticed  at  the  proper  time. 

In  respect  to  the  fund  which  the  annual  conferences 
were  authorized  to  raise  for  the  relief  of  worn-out 
preachers,  widows,  and  children,  several  of  the  con- 
ferences have  availed  themselves  of  it  at  different 
times,  under  such  regulations  as  they  deemed  expedi- 
ent, some  under  the  control  of  conference,  and  others 
by  forming  a  society  exclusively  of  such  members  as 
chose  to  become  subscribers  to  the  institution.  Bui 
with  all  these  helps,  nothing  like  an  adequate  supply 
has  ever  been  furnished  those  most  needy  and  deserv- 
ing members  of  the  Methodist  community.  Most  assur- 
edly the  widows  and  orphans,  and  those  preachers  who 
have  worn  themselves  out  in  the  service  of  the  Church, 
ought  not  to  be  "  neglected  in  the  daily  ministrations." 

The  conference  closed  its  labors  on  the  2 2d  day 
of  May,  1812,  and  sent  out  the  following  address  as 
expressive  of  their  feelings  and  views  at  this  import- 
ant period  of  our  history  : — 

"  The  Address  of  the  General  Conference  to  the  memhers  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America. 

"  Dearly  Beloved  Brethren  : — When  we  retrospect 
the  divine  goodness  toward  us  as  a  people,  our  hearts  are 
animated  with  sentiments  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  We 
have  been  favored  with  repeated  manifestations  of  the 
power  and  grace  of  God.     The  Redeemer  has  planted  his 

*2 


326  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812 

Standard  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  given  astonishing  success 
to  our  labors,  and  annually  made  accessions  of  thousands 
to  our  number.  From  the  cold  provinces  of  Canada  to  the 
sultry  regions  of  Georgia — from  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic 
to  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi — in  populous  cities,  im- 
proved countries,  and  dreary  deserts,  God  has  extended  the 
triumphs  of  his  grace.  Infidelity  trembles  in  the  presence 
of  the  cross,  superstition  yields  to  the  mild  influence  of 
the  gospel,  and  ignorance  vanishes  before  the  auspicious 
beams  of  truth.  In  the  revolution  of  a  few  years  our  num- 
ber has  almost  amounted  to  two  hundred  thousand,  exclu- 
sive of  expulsions,  withdrawings,  and  the  many  happy 
souls  who  have  departed  in  the  faith  and  gone  to  their  re- 
ward in  heaven.  We  have  mutually  participated  in  our 
prosperity. 

"  The  blessings  you  have  received  from  God  should 
humble  you  to  the  dust.  A  recollection  of  his  mercies 
should  inspire  you  with  gratitude  and  love.  All  the  divine 
benedictions  conferred  upon  you  have  been  unmerited  and 
free.  Undeserved  blessings  have  been  strewed  in  your 
paths,  and  distinguished  compassion  manifested  in  all  your 
ways.  Whilst  myriads  of  your  fellow-creatures  grope  in 
pagan  darkness  and  Mohammedan  delusion,  you  enjoy  the 
light  and  truth  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  In  the  midst  of 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  convulsions,  you  have  enjoyed  re- 
pose and  tranquiUity.  You  are  therefore  under  peculiar 
obligations  to  grace.  '  By  grace  are  ye  saved  through 
faith  ;  and  that  not  of  yourselves  ;  it  is  the  gift  of  God.' 
To  him,  therefore,  ascribe  the  glory  of  your  past  and  pre- 
sent prosperity. 

"  Frequently  in  our  solemn  assemblies  we  have  wit- 
nessed the  effusions  of  grace,  and  joyfully  experienced 
the  overwhelming  showers  of  redeeming  love.  We  are 
bound  to  you  by  ties,  which  death  itself  cannot  dissolve. 
With  you  again  we  renew  our  covenant,  to  live  and  die 
% 


1812.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  327 

your  servants  in  Jesus  Christ.  You  will,  therefore,  we 
hope,  receive  from  us  the  word  of  exhortation, 

"  The  pursuit  of  internal  religion  in  all  its  branches,  we 
most  ardently  insist  on.  The  religion  of  the  Bible  does 
not  consist  in  rites  and  ceremonies  ;  in  subscribing  creeds 
and  becoming  violent  partisans  ;  in  the  reveries  of  a  heat- 
ed imagination,  nor  the  paroxysms  of  agitated  passions  ; 
but  in  the  mind  which  was  in  Jesus  Christ ;  in  a  victory 
over  sin,  and  a  conformity  to  the  will  of  God  ;  '  in  love, 
joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meek- 
ness and  temperance  ;'  in  all  the  amiable  virtues  which 
centre  in  the  moral  character  of  God.  Without  this  holi- 
ness, we  shall  never  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  glory.  '  Be 
ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy,'  said  the  almighty  God.  And  no 
unclean  thing  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  said 
Jesus  Christ.  Therefore  pursue  this  holiness  with  all  the 
ardor  of  faith  and  hope.  Never  give  sleep  to  your  eyes, 
nor  slumber  to  your  eye-lids,  until  you  awake  with  the 
lovely  likeness  of  Christ. 

"  Whilst  we  insist  on  internal,  we  do  not  forget  external 
religion.  You  are  commanded  to  '  let  your  light  shine  be- 
fore men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify 
your  Father  who  is  in  heaven  ;'  to  walk  worthy  of  the 
vocation  wherewith  you  are  called,  and  to  be  careful  to 
maintain  good  works.  The  duties  which  God  has  enjoin- 
ed on  us  should  be  discharged  with  inviolate  fidelity.  The 
eyes  of  God  are  upon  us  ;  the  enemies  of  religion  behold 
us,  and  our  conscience  will  accuse  or  excuse  us.  O  let 
us  be  holy  in  all  our  outgoings  and  incomings. 

"  '  Search  the  Scriptures,'  said  Jesus  Christ,  'for  in  them 
ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life  ;  and  they  are  they  which  tes- 
tify of  me.'  God  has  not  left  us  to  learn  his  nature  and 
will  merely  from  his  works  and  providence  ;  he  has  re- 
vealed himself  in  the  pages  of  inspiration,  with  all  the  per- 
spicuity necessary  to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation.     This 

2 


328  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  11812 

holy  revelation  should  be  studied  with  industry,  attention, 
and  candor.  We  beseech  you,  read  it  in  your  families 
and  in  your  closets.  A  proper  knowledge  of  it  will  ren- 
der you  happy  in  all  the  calamities  of  life,  support  you  in 
the  pangs  of  death,  and  prepare  you  for  an  endless  enjoy- 
ment of  heaven. 

"  A  strict  attention  to  the  Christian  ordinances  we  deem 
indispensably  necessary.  Christ  himself  instituted  the 
holy  ordinances  of  baptism  and  the  sacrament  of  his  sup- 
per. We  trust  his  professed  followers  will  never  neglect 
them.  They  should  be  precious  in  our  memory,  and  dear 
to  our  heart,  '  Go  ye,'  said  Jesus  Christ,  '  and  teach  all 
nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'  And  in  reference  to  his 
supper  he  said,  '  This  do  in  remembrance  of  me.' 

"  The  sabbath  of  the  Lord  deserves  your  serious  con- 
sideration and  attention.  It  should  be  wholly  consecratfed 
to  his  service.  All  labor,  vain  conversation,  worldly-mind- 
edness,  and  visiting,  should  be  carefully  avoided.  Prayer, 
praise,  searching  the  Scriptures,  meditation,  and  waiting 
on  God,  should  be  our  only  employment.  *  Remember  the 
sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy,'  is  the  language  of  God. 

"  It  is  with  regret  that  we  have  seen  the  use  of  ardent 
spirits,  dram-drinking,  &c.,  so  common  among  the  Method- 
ists. We  have  endeavored  to  suppress  the  practice  by  our 
example,  but  it  is  necessary  that  we  add  precept  to  ex- 
ample ;  and  we  really  think  it  not  consistent  with  the 
character  of  a  Christian,  to  be  immersed  in  the  practice 
of  distiUing  or  retailing  an  article  so  destructive  to  the 
morals  of  society,  and  we  do  most  earnestly  recommend 
the  annual  conferences  and  our  people  to  join  with  us  in 
making  a  firm  and  constant  stand  against  an  evil  which 
has  ruined  thousands,  both  in  time  and  eternity. 

"  '  Be  not  conformed  to  this  world,'  said  the  Apostle  St. 
Paul ;  '  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  329 

mind.'  We  should  unanimously  arise,  and  oppose  the 
fashions  and  maxims  of  this  ungodly  world  ;  particularly  in 
the  article  of  dress.  We  are  creatures  of  a  moment,  has- 
tening to  the  grave,  and  soon  shall  stand  before  God  in 
judgment ;  therefore  let  us  not  copy  the  fashions  of  the 
gay  and  thoughtless,  especially  by  putting  on  gold,  and 
costly  apparel ;  but  dress  with  simplicity,  gravity,  and 
neatness. 

"  The  important  duty  of  fasting  has  almost  become  ob- 
solete. This  we  are  afraid  will  be  productive  of  melan- 
choly effects.  We  yet  have  abundant  cause  for  deep  hu- 
miliation before  God  and  one  another.  Our  country  is 
threatened,  calamities  stare  us  in  the  face,  iniquity 
abounds,  and  the  love  of  many  waxes  cold.  O  let  us 
again  resort  to  fasting  and  humiliation. 

"  The  propriety  of  religiously  educating  your  children, 
we  wish  seriously  to  impress  upon  your  minds.  To  in- 
struct them  in  the  arts  and  sciences  may  be  useful,  but  to 
teach  the  knowledge  of  God  and  their  own  hearts  is  ab- 
solutely necessary.  It  is  only  religion  which  can  render 
them  useful  in  society,  happy  in  life,  and  triumphant  in 
death.  The  effects  of  indifference  to  the  education  of 
children,  must  be  seen  and  lamented  by  every  friend  to 
religion.  Children  who  grow  up  in  iniquity  become  ob- 
durate in  sin,  and  prepared  for  almost  every  species  of 
vileness.  They  transgress  the  laws  of  God,  violate  the 
principles  of  humanity,  and  frequently  terminate  their  un- 
happy career  covered  with  iniquity  and  disgrace.  In- 
struct your  children,  therefore,  in  the  principle  and  excel- 
lence of  religion.  Whilst  young,  take  them  by  the  hand 
and  lead  them  into  the  salutary  paths  of  wisdom  and  \artue. 
And  rest  assured,  your  labor  shall  not  be  in  vain.  For, 
said  Solomon, '  train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go, 
and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  depart  from  it.' 

"  Now,  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly 
2 


330  A   HISTORY   OP   THE  [1812. 

above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power 
that  worketh  in  us,  unto  Him  be  glory  in  the  Church  by  Je- 
sus Christ  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.  Amen." 

The  Presiding  Elder  Question — Council  for  station- 
ing the  Preachers. 

As  this  question  was  largely  discussed  at  the  above 
conference,  as  well  as  before  and  since,  and  has,  at 
times,  occasioned  considerable  uneasiness  in  some 
minds,  this  seems  as  suitable  a  place  as  any  to  redeem 
my  pledge  to  present  the  question  fully  and  fairly  be- 
fore the  reader. 

That  it  may  be  rightly  understood,  it  is  necessary 
to  advert  to  the  circumstances  under  which  the  prac- 
tice of  fixing  the  stations  of  the  preachers  originated. 
When  Mr.  Wesley  commenced  his  evangelical  labors, 
and  helpers  were  raised  up  to  him  from  among  his 
sons  in  the  gospel,  he  was  naturally  led  to  appoint 
them  to  their  particular  fields  of  labor,  and  to  change 
them  as  often  as  he  judged  it  expedient ;  and  thus, 
from  usage  introduced  in  this  way,  it  became  an  esta- 
blished law,  so  long  as  Mr.  Wesley  lived,  to  appoint 
each  preacher  to  his  circuit,  to  change  him  as  often  as 
he  might  think  the  state  of  the  work  required  ;  and  I 
believe  he  never  allowed  any  preacher  to  remain 
longer  than  two,  or  at  most  three  years  in  one  place. 
But  after  Mr.  Wesley's  death,  this  power  devolved 
upon  the  conference,  who  appoint  a  stationing  commit- 
tee every  year,  whose  duty  it  is  to  fix  the  stations 
of  the  preachers,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  con- 
ference, if  any  one  thinks  himself  aggrieved. 

As  this  power  was  lodged  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Wesley,  and  as  his  assistant  in  America  acted  as  his 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST   BPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  331 

representative,  doing  that  which  he  would  have  done 
if  present ;  this  assistant  was  in  the  habit  of  stationing 
the  preachers,  of  removing  or  changing  them  as  often 
and  to  whatever  place  it  was  judged  the  state  of  the 
work  and  the  talents  of  the  preachers  might  render  it 
expedient.  According  to  this  usage,  which  had  grown 
up  with  the  growth  of  the  societies  in  America,  at  the 
General  Conference  in  1784,  when  the  societies 
were  organized  into  a  church,  it  was  made  the  duty 
of  the  bishop  "  to  fix  the  appointments  of  the  preach- 
ers for  the  several  circuits  ;  and  in  the  intervals  of 
the  conference  to  change,  receive,  or  suspend  preach- 
ers, as  necessity  may  require.""^ 

In  the  account  given  of  the  secession  of  O'Kelly 
and  its  causes,  wc  have  seen  that  he  moved  for  an 
appeal  to  the  conference  from  the  appointment  of  the 
bishop,  with  the  privilege,  if  any  preacher  thought 
himself  injured  by  his  appointment,  to  state  his  ob- 
jections, and  if  they  were  considered  by  the  confer- 
ence valid,  the  bishop  should  appoint  him  to  another 
circuit.  This  motion  was,  as  heretofore  related,  af- 
ter a  full  discussion  of  its  merits,  decided  in  the  neg- 
ative by  a  very  large  majority. f 

This  decision  put  the  question  so  completely  at 
rest,  that  we  find  nothing  more  in  relation  to  it  until 
the  General  Conference  of  180Q,  when  Dr.  Coke, 
after  it  had  been  determined  to  elect  an  additional 
bishop,  presented  the  following  resolution  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  conference  : — 

"  That  the  new  bishop,  whenever  he  presides  in  an  an- 
nual conference,  in  the  absence  of  Bishop  Asbury,  shall 

*  See  Vol.  i,  p.   176.     flbid.  p.  344. 


332  A    HISTORY    0»    THE  [18l2. 

bring  the  stations  of  the  preachers  into  the  conference, 
and  read"  (them,)  "  that  he  may  hear  what  the  conference 
has  to  say  upon  each  station." 

This  motion  was  withdrawn  by  tlie  mover;  and 
another,  that  the  "  new  bishop,  in  stationing  the  preach- 
ers, be  aided  by  a  committee  of  not  less  than  three, 
nor  more  than  four  preachers,  to  be  chosen  by  the 
conference,"  was,  after  an  exchange  of  opinions  in 
reference  to  it,  rejected  by  the  conference  ;  as  well  as 
several  other  attempts  which  were  made  by  different 
members  to  restrict  the  power  of  the  new  bishop. 

From  these  movements  it  would  appear  that  even 
those  who  were  in  favor  of  abridging  the  prerogative 
of  the  episcopacy  in  the  work  of  stationing  the 
preachers,  were  so  fully  convinced  of  the  wisdom  and 
strict  integrity  of  Bishop  Asbury,  that  they  had  no 
desire  to  curtail  his  conceded  rights  in  this  respect — 
a  conviction  highly  creditable  to  him  as  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Church — and  the  majority  determined 
that  the  new  bishop  should  go  into  office  clothed  with 
the  same  powers  which  had  been  ceded  to  the  senior 
bishop. 

I  find  nothing  more  on  the  records  of  the  General 
Conference  in  reference  to  this  question  until  1808, 
when  a  motion  was  made  to  make  the  office  of  pre- 
siding elder  elective  by  the  votes  of  the  annual  con- 
ferences. This  motion  was  largely,  and  by  many  of 
the  speakers  very  ably  and  eloquently  discussed,  but 
was  finally  decided  in  the  negative  by  a  majority  of 
twenty-one,  fifty-two  voting  in  favor  and  seventy- 
three  against  it. 

As  this  motion  was,  at  the  special  request  of  the 
mover,  disposed  of  before  the  resolutions  providing 
2 


1812.3  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  333 

for  a  delegated  general  conference  were  passed,  it 
has  been  strongly  urged  by  some  that  it  should  be 
considered  unconstitutional  either  to  elect  the  pre- 
siding elders  or  to  associate  a  committee  with  the 
bishops  in  stationing  the  preachers  ;  while  others  con- 
tend that  as  there  is  nothing  in  the  restrictive  regula- 
tions bearing  specifically  on  these  points,  it  is  still 
left  optional  with  the  conference  to  modify  or  change 
the  manner  of  appointing  those  officers  as  may  be 
judged  expedient,  and  also  to  elect  a  committee  to 
assist  the  bishop  in  stationing  the  preachers. 

Whetner  this  be  so  or  not,  the  subject  was  agitated 
from  one  General  Conference  to  another,  until  the 
year  1823,  since  which  time  it  has  been  allowed  to 
sleep  in  peace.  At  the  conference  of  1812  the  same 
question  was  introduced  by  a  motion  from  a  member 
of  the  New-York  conference,  and  fully  discussed,  but 
was  lost  by  a  majority  of  three,  forty-two  voting  in 
favor  and  forty-five  against  it.  It  may  be  proper  to 
observe  here  that  the  delegates  in  the  Philadelphia, 
New-York,  and  Genesee  conferences  were  all  in  favor 
of  this  measure,  the  majority  in  each  being  for  it, 
and  accordingly  sent  delegates  who  coincided  with 
them  in  opinion  ;  but  they  were  seconded  by  a  few 
only  from  the  southern  and  western  delegates. 

The  same  fate  attended  a  similar  motion  in  1816, 
although  one  of  the  bishops  elected  at  that  conference 
was  known  to  be  favorable  to  the  proposed  change  in 
the  mode  of  selecting  the  presiding  elders.  The  re- 
solution of  this  conference  was,  as  finally  acted  on,  in 
the  following  words  : — 

"  The  bishop,  at  an  early  period  of  the  annual  confer- 
ence, shall  nominate  an  elder  for  each  district,  and  the 

2 


334  A   HISTORY   OF   THE 

conference  shall,  without  debate,  either  confirm  or  reject 
such  nomination.  If  the  person  or  persons  so  nominated 
be  not  elected  by  the  conference,  the  bishop  shall  nomi- 
nate two  others  for  each  vacant  district,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  chosen.  And  the  presiding  elder  so  elected  and 
appointed  shall  remain  in  office  four  years,  unless  dis- 
missed by  the  mutual  consent  of  the  bishop  and  confer- 
ence ;  but  no  presiding  elder  shall  be  removed  from  office 
during  the  term  of  four  years,  unless  the  reasons  for  such 
removal  be  stated  to  him  in  presence  of  the  conference^ 
which  shall  decide  without  debate  on  his  case." 

It  was  then  provided,  in  another  paragraph,  that 
the  presiding  elders  thus  selected,  should  form  a  coun- 
cil to  assist  the  bishop  in  stationing  the  preachers. 

Perhaps  a  greater  amount  of  talent  was  never 
brought  to  bear  on  any  question  ever  brought  before 
the  General  Conference,  than  was  elicited  from  both 
sides  of  the  house  in  the  discussion  of  this  resolu- 
tion. Some  of  the  speeches  were  deep,  pungent,  and 
highly  argumentative,  the  speakers  throwing  their 
whole  souls  into  the  subject,  and  winding  themselves 
up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  impassioned  eloquence, 
often  concluding  with  a  tremendous  appeal  to  the 
understandings  and  consciences  of  their  antagonists, 
both  sides  invoking  the  future  prosperity  of  the  Church 
as  an  auxiliary  to  their  arguments.  The  vote  ulti- 
mately declared  the  voice  of  the  conference  to  be 
against  the  measure,  thirty-eight  voting  in  favor  and 
sixty-three  against  it. 

The  same  question   was   brought  forward  in   the 

General  Conference  of   1820,  and   after  debate  had 

thereon   was    again   decided   in   the   negative.       As 

however,    considerable    uneasiness    was    manifested, 

3 


METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  335 

particularly  by  the  advocates  of  the  measure,  it  was 
moved  by  Nathan  Bangs,  and  seconded  by  William 
Capers,  the  former  friendly  and  the  latter  adverse  to 
ihe  measure, 

"  That  three  of  the  members  who  desire  an  election  of 
the  presiding  elders,  and  an  equal  number  of  those  who 
are  opposed  to  any  change  of  our  present  plan,  be  a  com- 
mittee to  confer  with  the  bishops  upon  that  subject,  and 
that  they  report  to  us  whether  any,  and  if  any,  what  alter- 
ations might  be  made  to  conciliate  the  wishes  of  the 
brethren  upon  this  subject,  and  that  they  report  to- 
morrow." 

This  resolution  having  passed  the  conference,  the 
following  were  appointed  members  of  the  commit- 
tee : — Ezekiel  Cooper,  Stephen  G.  Roszel,  Nathan 
Bangs,  Joshua  Wells,  John  Emory,  William  Capers. 

After  a  conference  with  the  bishops,  agreeably  to 
their  instructions,  the  committee  unanimously  concur- 
red in  the  following  report  : — 

"  The  committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  bishops 
on  a  plan  to  conciliate  the  wishes  of  the  brethren  on  the 
subject  of  choosing  presiding  elders,  recommend  to  the 
conference  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions,  to  be 
inserted  in  their  proper  place  in  the  Discipline,  namely: — 

"1.  That  whenever  in  any  annual  conference  there 
shall  be  a  vacancy  or  vacancies  in  the  office  of  presiding 
elder,  in  consequence  of  his  period  of  service  of  four  years 
having  expired,  or  the  bishop  wishing  to  remove  any  pre- 
siding elder,  or  by  death,  resignation  or  otherwise,  the 
bishop  or  president  of  the  conference  having  ascertained 
the  number  wanted  from  any  of  these  causes,  shall  nomi- 
nate three  times  the  number,  out  of  which  the  conference 
shall  elect  by  ballot,  without  debate,  the  number  wanted  ; — 
provided,  when  there  is  more  than  one  wanted,  not  more 

2 


336  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

than  three  at  a  lime  shall  be  nominated,  nor  more  than 
one  at  a  time  elected  ; — Provided  also,  that  in  case  of  any 
vacancy  or  vacancies  in  the  office  of  presiding  elder  in  the 
interval  of  any  annual  conference,  the  bishop  shall  have 
authority  to  fill  the  said  vacancy  or  vacancies,  until  the 
ensuing  annual  conference. 

"  2.  That  the  presiding  elders  be  and  hereby  are  made 
the  advisory  council  of  the  bishop  or  president  of  the  con- 
ference in  stationing  the  preachers." 

This  report  was  signed  by  all  the  members  of  the 
committee  above  named,  and  submitted  to  the  con- 
ference in  the  afternoon  session  of  May  20th,  and, 
after  some  little  conversation  in  respect  to  its  merits, 
was  passed  by  a  majority  of  thirty-six  votes,  sixty-one 
in  favor  and  twenty-five  against  it.  As  this  was  pre- 
sented and  adopted  in  the  spirit  of  compromise,  it 
was  hoped  by  many  on  both  sides  of  the  house, 
that  this  long  agitated  question  would  be  allowed  to 
rest  in  quiet. 

In  this  expectation  they  were,  however,  disappoint* 
ed ;  for  the  Rev.  Joshua  Soule,  who  had  been  elected 
on  the  13th  to  the  episcopa}  office,  after  a  prayerful 
and  mature  consideration  of  the  subject,  signified  to 
the  conference  that  if  consecrated  a  bishop,  inasmuch 
as  these  resolutions  were  adopted  after  his  election, 
and  were,  in  his  judgment,  unconstitutional,  he  could 
not  consistently  with  his  views  of  duly,  be  controlled 
by  them  :  and  Bishop  M'Kendree,  whose  health 
would  not  permit  him  to  participate  much  in  the 
doings  of  the  conference,  on  the  23d,  three  days 
after  their  passage,  came  into  the  conference,  and, 
after  assigning  sundry  reasons,  entered  his  objections 
against  them  as  unconstitutional,  and,  as  he  apprehend- 
2 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,  337 

ed,  subversive  of  the  grand  system  of  an  efficient  and 
general  superintendency  and  itinerancy. 

The  judgment  of  these  two  men,  both  justly  re- 
spected,'— the  one  on  account  of  his  office,  leng  and 
laborious  services,  his  age  and  experience,  the  other 
for  having  the  confidence  of  a  majority  of  his  brethren 
forone  of  the  superintendents  of  the  Church, — had  great 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  many,  and  led  to  a  serious 
suspense  in  respect  to  the  expediency  of  the  measure. 

These  movements,  indeed,  created  quite  a  sensation 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  were  the  most  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  stability  and  prosperity  of  our  institu- 
tions on  both  sides  of  the  question,  and  the  more  so, 
as  the  bishop  elect  had  tendered  his  resignation,  which 
was  finally  accepted  by  the  conference.  Hence,  after 
an  ineffectual  attempt  to  get  the  above  resolutions  re- 
considered, a  motion  was  at  length  made  and  carried, 
that  they  be  suspended  for  four  years,  and  that  in 
the  mean  time  the  government  should  be  adminis- 
tered as  heretofore. 

In  1824,  their  suspension  was  continued,  and  at 
the  General  Conference  in  Pittsburgh,  in  1828,  they 
were  called  up,  and  with  but  a  feeble  opposition  were 
rescinded,  and  the  subject  has  not  been  since  agitated. 

I  have  thus  endeavored  to  furnish  the  reader  with 
a  true  and  impartial  narration  of  the  facts  in  relation 
to  a  question  which  has  caused  more  agitation  in  our 
Church,  and  sometimes  seemed  to  threaten  more  dis- 
astrous consequences,  than  any  other  which,  up  to 
that  time,  had  been  canvassed  on  the  floor  of  the  Gene- 
ral Conference.  It  only  remains  now,  that  the  pro- 
minence and  importance  given  to  it  may  be  duly  ap- 
preciated, to  state  the  outlines  of  the  arguments  which 

Vol   II. — 15 


338  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

were  used  for  and  against  the  proposed  alteration,  by 
those  who  entered  most  deeply  into  the  discussion 
Those  in  favor  of  the  change,  alleged, 

1.  That  it  is  more  in  conformity  to  the  genius  of 
the  American  people  to  have  a  voice  in  the  election 
of  those  who  are  to  rule  over  them  ;  and  as  the  pre- 
siding elders  were,  by  the  usages  of  the  Church,  en- 
trusted with  a  controlling  influence  over  the  preach- 
ers, they  ought  to  have  a  choice  in  their  selection. 

2.  It  was  contended  that  so  long  as  they  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  bishop,  it  necessarily  augmented  the 
power  of  the  episcopacy,  as,  by  virtue  of  this  appoint- 
ment, the  presiding  elders  were  amenable  to  the  bishop 
alone  for  their  official  conduct,  and  not  to  their 
brethren  in  the  conference. 

3.  Hence,  the  preacher,  let  him  be  oppressed 
over  so  much  in  his  appointment,  has  no  medium  of 
redress  within  his  reach,  as  his  case  is  represented  to 
the  appointing  power  through  an  ecclesiastical  officer 
over  whom  he  has  no  control,  and  who  is  completely 
in  the  bishop's  confidence  and  at  his  disposal. 

4.  These  things,  it  was  contended,  were  incom- 
patible with  the  natural  and  civil  rights  of  freemen, 
and  especially  with  that  equality  among  brethren  of 
the  same  ministerial  order,  as  are  the  presiding 
elders  and  all  the  other  elders  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 

5.  As  to  a  council  to  advise  with  the  bishops  in 
stationing  the  preachers,  it  was  pleaded  that  however 
wise  and  good  the  bishop  mght  be,  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  have  that  knowledge  of  the  local  state 
of  the  people  and  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
preachers,  which  is   essential  to  enable  him  to  make 

2 


METHODMT  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  339 

the  most  judicious  appointments ;  and  hence  he  as- 
sumed a  responsibility  for  which  he  could  not  ration- 
ally account. 

6.  And  then  to  give  one  man  the  complete  con- 
trol over  five  hundred  others,  many  of  whom  may  be 
equal  to  him  in  age  and  experience,  and  perhaps  also 
in  wisdom,  learning,  and  goodness,  and  as  likely  to 
be  as  disinterested  in  their  views  and  feelings,  was  an 
anomaly  in  legislation  and  an  absurdity  in  practice 
for  which  no  arguments  could  be  adduced,  derived 
from  either  Scripture  or  the  fitness  of  things. 

7.  That  however  safely  this  prerogative  might  be 
exercised  by  Bishop  Asbury,  especially  in  the  infancy 
of  the  Church,  when  the  number  of  preachers  was 
few,  it  had  now  become  impossible,  on  the  increase 
of  preachers  and  people,  for  a  bishop  to  exercise 
such  a  tremendous  power  intelligibly  and  safely  to 
all  concerned.  Bishop  Asbury,  it  was  argued,  was 
the  father  of  the  connection,  and  felt  for  the  entire 
family  in  a  way  that  no  one  else  could,  and  therefore 
no  one  else  ought  to  be  entrusted  with  the  same 
power  which  he  had  exercised. 

8.  The  example  of  our  British  brethren  was  cited, 
who,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wesley,  had  given  the 
power  of  stationing  the  preachers  to  a  committee,  and 
then  they  were  allowed  an  appeal  to  the  conference. 

To  these  arguments,  it  was  answered, 
1.  That  the  Church  of  Christ  was  founded,  in 
some  respects,  upon  very  different  principles  from 
those  on  which  civil  governments  rested,  and  there- 
fore, though  analogous  in  some  particulars,  yet  in 
others  the  contrast  was  so  obvious  as  to  neutralize 
all  analogical  arguments.      That  though   the  people 

3 


%40  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

elected  their  legislators,  president,  and  governors,  yet 
most  of  the  executive  officers  were  appointed  by  the 
president;  and  as  presiding  elders  were  executive  offi- 
cers, their  appointnnent  by  the  bishop  might  be  justi- 
fied even  from  analogy. 

2.  Though  it  was  admitted  that  they  strengthened 
the  hands  of  the  episcopacy,  yet  being  appointed  by 
him  saved  the  Church  from  an  evil  more  to  be  dread- 
ed than  mere  episcopal  power,  and  that  was  an  elec- 
tioneering spirit,  which  must  keep  the  conferences  in 
perpetual  agitations — engendering  a  strife  incompati- 
ble with  the  spirit  of  harmony  and  brotherly  love. 

3.  Hence,  though  a  preacher  might,  either  from 
inadvertence  or  design,  be  injured  in  his  appointment, 
yet  to  make  the  presiding  elder  dependant  on  the 
choice  of  an  annual  conference  might  make  him  fear 
to  do  his  duty,  in  respect  to  enforcing  discipline,  and 
in  exacting  vigilance  from  those  under  him  in  the  dis- 
charge of  duty;  moreover  his  redress  was  always  with 
the  bishop  and  the  annual  conference,  to  whom  con- 
jointly the  presiding  elder  is  responsible  for  his  offi- 
cial conduct. 

.  4.  As  to  natural  and  civil  rights,  it  was  retorted, 
that  though  a  Methodist  preacher  retained  them  as 
a  citizen,  yet  the  moment  he  entered  the  itinerancy, 
he  became  subject  to  ecclesiastical  restraints  which, 
though  not  incompatible  with  his  rights  as  a  freeman, 
were  nevertheless  essential  to  the  preservation  and 
efficient  operation  of  the  itinerancy. 

5.  In   respect  to   the  necessity,  arising  from    the 

limited  information  and  want  of  local  knowledge  of  a 

bishop,  of  associating  others   with  him   in  stationing 

the  preachers,  this   was  remedied  in  practice  by  his 

2 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  341 

receiving  all  the  information  he  could  from  presiding 
elders  and  others,  and  then  acting  according  to  the 
dictates  of  an  unbiased  judgment,  which  was  less 
likely  to  be  influenced  by  local  prejudices  than  those 
who,  from  their  more  limited  sphere  of  information, 
were  liable  to  be  biased  by  partial  interests  and 
local  feelings. 

6.  As  to  an  unlimited  control  over  five  hundred 
men,  more  or  less,  while  it  was  admitted  that  many 
of  them  might  be  equal  to  the  bishop  in  general  wis- 
dom and  experience,  yet  they  could  not,  from  their  po- 
sition, have  that  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  whole 
work,  and  that  experience  arising  from  extensive  travel 
and  information  which  belonged  to  an  itinerating 
episcopacy  ;  and,  moreover,  this  control  had  a  check 
in  annual  conferences,  who  might  ultimately  determine 
whether  a  preacher  was  justified  or  not  in  refusing  to 
go  to  his  appointment,  and  also  by  the  General  Con- 
ference, under  the  inspection  of  which  the  bishop's 
conduct  passed  every  fourth  year. 

7.  Though  it  be  admitted  that  Bishop  Asbury  sus- 
tained a  fatherly  relation  to  the  Church  which  none 
of  his  successors  could,  and  had  a  more  intimate 
knowledge  of  preachers  and  people,  both  from  his 
having  grown  up  with  them,  and  the  comparative 
smallness  of  their  number,  yet  it  was  contended,  that 
the  having  an  increased  number  of  bishops,  together 
with  those  restraints  constantly  thrown  around  them 
by  the  watchful  vigilance  of  their  brethren  in  the  an- 
nual and  general  conferences,  would  prevent  a  wanton 
exercise  of  power,  and  render  it  still  safe  in  their 
hands. 

8.  As  to  our  British  brethren,  they  had  no  other 
visible  head  than  their  conference.     But  we  have, 

3 


348  A   HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  therefore  can  act  more  efficiently  through  this 
medium,  than  wc  could  do  by  a  stationing  cominiltee. 
It  was  still  further  contended,  and  with  great  force 
of  argument,  that  if  this  power  were  taken  from  the 
bishops,  it  would  be  extremely  difficult  to  keep  up  an 
interchange  of  preachers  from  one  annual  conference 
to  another,  a  difficulty  not  felt  in  England,  where 
they  were  all  united  in  one  conference,  in  which  all 
their  business  was  transacted. 

In  the  course  of  this  discussion  two  opposite  views 
were  taken  of  the  doctrine  of  responsibility.  Some 
of  those  who  contended  for  reserving  this  power  in 
the  hands  of  the  bishop,  insisted  that  the  episcopacy 
was  responsible  for  the  entire  executive  administra- 
tion, in  all  its  ramifications,  and  therefore,  in  order 
that  it  might  exercise  it  safely,  it  must  have  the  con- 
trol of  the  appointments,  not  indeed  to  office,  but  to 
the  several  stations,  so  that  if  those  acting  under  its 
appointment  did  not  discharge  their  trusts  with  fidelity, 
they  might  be  removed  or  changed  at  pleasure  ;  and 
as  a  strong  and  commanding  motive  for  a  wise  and 
faithful  execution  of  this  high  trust,  the  episcopacy 
was  held  responsible  to  the  General  Conference, 
which  had  entrusted  to  the  bishops  the  preservation 
of  our  itinerancy  in  all  its  parts  ;  and  this  they  could 
not  do  if  the  power  of  appointment  were  taken  from 
them. 

To  this  it  was  replied,  that  though  this  seemed 
very  plausible  in  theory,  it  was  not  possible  to  exem- 
plify it  in  practice — that  it  was  loading  the  episco- 
pacy with  a  weight  of  responsibility  too  heavy  for 
any  mortal  and  fallible  man  to  bear,  and  therefore 
must  ultimately  crush  the  episcopacy  beneath  its 
2 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  343 

pressure.  To  prevent  this  it  would  be  most  judi- 
cious to  divide  the  responsibility  among  the  several 
annual  conferences,  and  hold  the  presiding  elders 
especially  strictly  responsible  to  them  for  their 
official  as  well  as  their  moral  and  Christian  con- 
duct— as  it  was  admitted  on  all  hands  that  the 
preachers  were  held  accountable  to  their  respective 
conferences  for  their  ministerial  and  Christian  conduct, 
it  was  in  vain  to  contend  that  the  episcopacy  should 
be  made  hable  to  censure  for  their  malversation. 
The  former  traced  responsibility  from  the  General 
Conference,  who  made  the  regulations  and  judged  of 
episcopal  acts,  to  the  episcopacy,  and  thence  down 
through  the  several  grades  of  Church  officers  :  the 
latter  traced  it  up  through  the  societies,  to  quarterly 
and  annual  conferences,  to  the  General  Conference  ; 
while  others  contended,  with  more  truth  than  either,  it  is 
believed,  that  each  body  and  officer  was  accounta- 
ble for  its  and  his  own  conduct,  and  the  latter  to  the 
tribunal  from  which  he  received  his  authority,  and 
held  the  right  to  call  him  to  an  account  for  his  acts 
and  deeds. 

These  several  topics,  with  others  of  a  collateral 
character,  were  enlarged  upon  and  amplified  at  the 
several  stages  of  this  discussion,  according  to  the  pe- 
culiar views  and  feelings  of  the  several  speakers  who 
distinguished  themselves  on  each  side  of  the  ques- 
tion, until  the  subject  seemed  to  be  exhausted  ;  when 
finally,  other  matters  of  weightier  importance  and 
more  seriously  affecting  the  vital  principles  of  Me- 
thodism, called  off  the  attention  of  all  from  this  ques- 
tion, and  led  them  to  a  union  of  effort  to  preserve  our 
institutions  from  deterioration  ;  and  this  union  served 


344  A   HISTORY   OF   THE 

to  convince  both  that  if  they  had  at  any  time  indulged 
suspicions  of  each  other's  attachment  to  the  essential 
principles  of  our  economy,  they  had  labored  under 
erroneous  impressions. 

That  such  suspicions  were  indulged  to  some  extent, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  ;  and  it  v^^as  this  which 
sometimes  gave  an  irritating  poignancy  to  some  of 
the  remarks  and  arguments,  and  led  to  momentary 
interruptions  of  brotherly  affection.  But  I  think  I 
may  now  venture  to  say  without  the  fear  of  contra- 
diction, that  among  those  who  advocated  this  modifi- 
cation in  a  feature  of  our  government,  there  have  been 
found  those  who  have  manifested  an  unabated  attach- 
ment to  the  episcopacy,  to  the  itinerancy,  and  the  en- 
tire economy  of  our  Church,  and  have  done  as  much 
effectually  to  support  it  as  any  of  their  brethren  ;  and 
I  am  equally  well  convinced  that  those  who  withstood 
all  such  alterations  were  actuated  by  the  same  hal- 
lowed motives,  and  that  it  was  an  honest  fear  that  if 
admitted,  they  would  impair  the  integrity  and  weaken 
the  force  and  energy  of  the  general  system,  and  thus 
impede  its  progress  in  its  career  of  usefulness  ;  but 
now,  having  for  the  present  buried  all  differences  of 
opinion,  both  may  rejoice  together  in  working  unitedly 
in  carrying  forward  the  grand  cause  in  which  we  are 
mutually  engaged,  and  in  striving  to  hand  down  the 
Methodism,  which  we  all  love,  unimpaired  to  the  gene- 
rations that  may  come  after  us. 

It  will  be  perceived  by  the  attentive  reader,  that  it 
was  admitted  on  all  hands  that  a  power  to  station  the 
ministry  must  exist  somewhere,  or  the  itinerancy  would 
stop.  For  the  moment  it  is  admitted  that  a  minister 
may  choose  his  own  station,  or  that  the  people  may 
2 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  345 

control  it,  the  itinerancy  falls  to  pieces.  The  only- 
controversy  therefore  was,  where  can  the  stationing 
power  be  the  most  usefully,  safely,  and  energetically 
lodged,  and  the  majority  have  hitherto  decided  with 
the  bishops — and  there  let  it  rest,  unless  future  events 
shall  reveal  such  an  abuse  of  the  power  as  will  ren- 
der it  necessary  either  to  dissolve  the  itinerancy  or 
to  commit  its  destinies  to  other  hands — neither  of 
which,  it  is  hoped,  will  ever  be  realized. 

I  know  it  has  been  contended  by  some  that  the 
people  are  hereby  deprived  of  all  their  rights  in  the 
choice  of  their  minister.  This,  however,  is,  I  think, 
a  great  mistake.  They  choose  and  recommend  them 
all,  in  the  first  instance,  in  their  primary  assemblies  ; 
for  no  man  can  receive  a  license,  either  to  exhort  or 
preach,  unless  he  be  first  recommended  by  the  class 
or  leaders'  meeting  to  which  he  belongs.  He  then 
passes  up  through  the  quarterly-meeting  conference, 
composed  of  his  peers,  and  thence  to  the  annual  con- 
ference, in  the  meantime  exercising  his  gifts  among 
the  brethren  who  are  the  ultimate  judges  of  his  quali- 
fications and  usefulness. 

In  the  next  place  the  people  have  access  to  the 
stationing  power,  and  are  respectfully  heard  ;  for 
Bishop  Asbury  used  to  say,  we  must  never  deny  our 
people  the  right  of  being  heard  by  petition  or  remon- 
strance ;  as  this  is  all  the  choice  they  either  have  or 
demand  in  respect  to  whom  they  will  have  to  rule 
over  and  to  preach  to  them  ;  and  therefore  were  this 
denied  them,  they  might  well  complain  of  a  spiritual 
despotism.  Except  the  Congregationalists — and  I  do 
not  know  that  we  ought  to  except  t  even  these — the 

t  That  the  reader  may  perceive  the  reason  why  it  is  doubt- 
15*  2 


34&  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Methodists  have  as  much  of  a  voice  in  the  choice  of 
their  ministers,  as  any  other  denomination  ;  for  the 
Presbyterians  can  neither  settle  nor  dismiss  a  minis- 
ter without    the  consent   of   the   presbytery,  nor  the 

ed  whether  or  no  any  exception  should  be  made,  let  him  recol- 
lect that  the  Congregationalists  claim  to  exercise  the  right  of 
choosing  their  own  ministers,  and  of  dismissing  them  at  plea- 
sure. Now  let  us  suppose  in  a  certain  district  of  country- 
there  are  one  hundred  congregations  and  as  many  ministers  to 
supply  them  ;  that  among  these  one  hundred  ministers  there 
are  say  twenty  of  eminent  talents,  thirty  of  middling,  and  the 
other  fifty  ranking  among  those  of  the  more  ordinary  class.  It 
may  be  supposed  that  each  of  the  one  hundred  congregations 
will  choose  one  of  the  twenty,  but  eighty  of  them  must  be  dis- 
appointed ;  and  then,  allowing  them  to  make  choice  of  the 
other  thirty,  fifty  of  these  must  yet  be  disappointed,  and  must, 
therefore,  either  do  without  any,  or  take  the  man  they  do  not 
want ;  for  these  congregations  can  no  more  be  certain  of  the 
man  of  their  choice,  than  they  would  if  the  ultimate  decision 
were  left  with  a  third  person. 

Even  in  this  respect,  therefore,  they  are  no  more  likely  to 
be  gratified  in  their  choice  than  a  Methodist  congregation.  In 
another  respect  the  Methodists  have  greatly  the  advantage,  both 
ministers  and  people.  If  the  Methodist  people  get  a  minister 
who  does  not  suit  them,  they  ?na't/,  by  remonstrance  to  the  ap  • 
pointing  power,  rid  themselves  of  him  at  the  end  of  one  year, 
or  at  the  end  of  two  years  he  7nust  be  removed  to  another 
place.  Not  so  with  the  Congregationalists,  nor  any  of  the 
other  denominations  we  have  mentioned.  Some  settle  for  life, 
and  some  for  a  term  of  years.  In  such  cases  they  must,  how- 
ever disagreeable  he  may  be,  either  keep  him  to  the  end  of 
the  term,  or  hire  him  to  depart.  Or  if  he  be  engaged  from 
year  to  year,  what  fluctuations  in  uncertainty  may  agitate  both 
minister  and  people  ;  and  if  the  former  be  dismissed,  the  latter 
are  not  sure  of  a  better,  while  the  minister  himself  is  thrown 
out  upon  the  world  pennyless,  until  he  can  ingratiate  himself 
into  the  favor  of  some  other  people  less  particular  than  those 
he  left,  in  respect  to  ministerial  qualifications. 

Now  these  evils  are,  in  a  great  measure  at  least,  remedied 
2 


1812.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  347 

Protestant  Episcopalians,  or  other  Episcopal  Church- 
es, without  the  consent  of  their  bishop.  There  must, 
in  the  nature  of  things,  be  an  umpire  somewhere,  to 
decide  this  question ;  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  has  seen  fit,  for  the  reasons  already  assigned, 
to  commit  it  to  the  episcopacy  ;  and  if  it  require  a 
greater  sacrifice  on  the  part  of  the  ministry  to  bow  to 
its  exercise  than  some  others  are  willing  to  make,  it 
must  be  admitted,  I  think,  on  all  hands,  that  it  is  a 
mode  of  procedure  which  has  so  far  worked  energeti- 
cally and  most  beneficially  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  people  generally  ;  for  all  classes  have  more  or 
less  either  seen  or  felt  its  benign  effects  in  bringing 
sinners  from  darkness  to  light,  and  preserving  the 
Church  in  peace  and  purity. 


CHAPTER  II. 

From  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  of  1812  to  the   death  of 
Bishop  Asbury,  in  1816. 

Soon  after  the  adjournment  of  the  conference, 
namely,  on  the  18th  of  June,  the  United  States  de- 
clared war  against  Great  Britain.  Though  this  event 
had  been  expected  for  some  time,  yet  it  created  a 
great  sensation  throughout  the  country,  and  particu- 
larly among  those  who  regarded  religion  as  breathing 
nought  but  peace  and  good  will  to  man.  The  note 
of  preparation,  however,  was  soon  sounded  through  all 

by  the  system  adopted  by  the  Methodist  plan  of  stationing-  the 
preachers.  It  has  another  imnnense  advantage  over  the  other — 
it  diffuses  ministerial  gifts,  by  a  yearly  or  biennial  interchange, 
over  the  whole  surface  of  the  Church ;  and  thus,  "  if  one  suf- 
fer all  suffer  with  it,"  and  all  are  equally  partakers  of  the  gifts 
and  graces  of  the  entire  ministry, 

2 


34ft  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812. 

our  borders  ;  and  as  it  was  expected  that  the  war  would 
rage  principally  along  our  western  and  north-western 
frontiers,  where  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  and 
of  the  Canadas  approximated  each  other,  it  was  fore 
seen  that  the  Methodists  in  these  two  countries  must 
necessarily  come  into  unhappy  collisions  with  each 
other,  and  perhaps  be  obliged,  however  reluctantly,  to 
spill  each  other's  blood. ^ 

Only  one  preacher,  therefore,  Thomas  Burch,  who 
volunteered  for  Canada  from  the  United  States,  arrived 
there  ;  the  other,  Nathan  Bangs,  who  was  appointed 
presiding  elder  in  the  lower  province,  but  was  to  have 
charge  also  of  Montreal,  by  the  consent  of  the  bishops, 
relinquished  his  journey,  after  removing  from  New- 
York  as  far  as  Lansingburgh,  and  remained  in  the 
United  States. 

In  consequence  of  this  state  of  things  the  brethren 
in  Upper  Canada  were  prevented  from  attending  the 
Genesee  conference,  to  which  they  were  now  attach- 
ed ;  and  as  all  friendly  intercourse  between  the  two 
countries  was  suspended,  they  were  necessarily  left  to 
take  care  of  themselves  in  the  best  way  they  could. 
This  laid  the  foundation  of  that  uneasiness  in  the 
Canadas  which  eventuated  in  the  separation  of  the 
work  in  those  provinces  from  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  led  to  their  connection  finally  with 
the  Weslcyan  Methodist  Conference.-j* 

The  great  success  which  accompanied  the  labors 
of  the  Methodist  itinerants  in  the  western  states  and 

*  See  note  A  at  the  end  of  the  volume. 

■j"  This  event,  with  the  causes  which  led  to  it,  belongs  to 
another  period  of  our  history,  and  will  be  noticed  in  its  proper 
place. 
2 


1812J  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  349 

territories,  and  the  growing  importance  in  a  national 
point  of  view,  of  those  parts  of  the  federal  union, 
began  to  attract  the  attention  and  to  call  forth  the  en- 
ergies of  other  denominations.  Hitherto  these  had, 
on  many  occasions,  affected  to  treat  the  Methodists 
with  silent  contempt,  as  unworthy  of  notice.  But 
their  growing  prosperity  in  almost  every  direction, 
seemed  at  length  to  awaken  others  to  activity  in 
striving  to  imitate  them  in  their  zealous  efforts  to  ex- 
tend the  gospel  by  means  of  missionary  labors  in  the 
new  countries  and  elsewhere. 

In  1810  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
commenced  its  operations,  and  not  long  after,  with  a 
view  to  furnish  them  with  suitable  agents,  who  might 
be  willing  to  endure  the  fatigues  and  privations  inci- 
dent to  a  missionary  life  in  the  new  countries,  "  The 
Charitable  Society  for  the  Education  of  Pious  Young 
Men  for  the  Ministry  of  the  Gospel"  was  instituted. 
And  in  order  to  ascertain  the  true  state  of  things  in 
the  western  country,  a  commission  was  sent  about 
this  time  on  an  exploring  expedition  through  the  new 
states  and  territories,  and  Schermerhorn  and  Mills 
were  intrusted  with  its  execution.  The  report  of 
their  travels  was  published  ;  and  as  they  animadvert- 
ed quite  freely  upon  the  economy  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  upon  the  conduct  of  its  ministers,  and  general 
plan  of  operations,  it  roused  the  indignation  of  many, 
and  more  especially  of  those  who  had  spent  their  life 
and  sacrificed  their  all  of  mere  earthly  enjoyments  to 
plant  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  those  new  countries. 

One  thing  seemed  to  astonish  these  gentlemen  very 
much,  and  shows  their  want  of  information  in  regard 
to  the  economy  of  our  Church,  and  that  was  in  al- 


350  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1812. 

most  every  settlement  they  visited  they  found  not  only 
Methodists  and  Methodist  preachers,  but  also  Method- 
ist hooks^  and  the  query  was,  whence  they .  came — 
when,  lo  and  behold !  they  were  informed  that  these 
were  sold,  and  the  proceeds  forwarded  to  New-York 
lo  furnish  means  to  print  and  circulate  more  !  And 
thus  the  imagination  of  those  gentlemen  and  their  hon- 
est readers  was  filled  with  the  alarming  apprehension 
that  the  country  was  in  danger  of  being  flooded  with 
Methodist  publications. 

Another  danger  to  be  apprehended  was  the  perni- 
cious consequences  resulting  to  the  population  of  the 
west  from  the  prevalence  of  Methodist  doctrine  and 
usages ;  and,  in  order  to  give  effect  to  the  note  of 
alarm,  and  the  danger  to  be  apprehended  from  the 
rapid  increase  of  the  societies,  they  told  their  readers 
that  persons  were  received  into  the  Church  with  only 
the  ''  expression  of  desire,"  thus  mutilating  the  lan- 
guage of  the  "  General  Rules  of  the  United  Societies," 
for  the  purpose,  as  it  would  seem,  of  lowering  the 
character  of  Methodism  in  the  public  estimation  ;  far 
the  readers  of  this  report  would  not  know  whether 
the  condition  of  membership  was  a  "  desire"  for 
riches,  for  honor,  or  a  desire  merely  to  become  Method- 
ists— whereas  the  "  rules"  specify  the  character  of 
the  desire,  and  likewise  state  the  evidence  of  its  real 
existence — "  a  desire  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come,  and 
to  be  saved  from  their  sins,"  affirming  that  evidence 
of  such  a  desire  is  manifested  "  by  avoiding  evil  of 
every  kind,  and  doing  good  of  every  possible  sort,  ac- 
cording to  their  power  and  opportunity." 

Those  who  read  this  pamphlet,  and  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  the  state  of  things  in  the  west,  were 
2 


1812.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  351 

somewhal  surprised  that  while  the  people  there  were 
growing  up  into  settlements,  towns,  and  villages,  des- 
titute of  the  ordinances  of  religion,  those  who  sustain- 
ed the  present  commission  manifested  no  concern  at 
all  for  their  spiritual  welfare  ;  but  that  now,  since  the 
towns  were  built,  the  "  wilderness  turned  into  a  fruitful 
field,"  and  Methodist  circuits,  societies,  districts,  and 
even  annual  conferences  established  there,  they  should 
all  at  once  awake  as  from  a  profound  sleep,  and  casting 
a  hasty  glance  over  the  land,  should  discover  that  the 
people  were  going  fast  to  destruction,  and  that  Me- 
thodism was  poisoning  the  fountains  of  knowledge 
and  religion  with  its  pestiferous  breath  ! 

These  things  are  mentioned  because  they  form,  in 
some  respects,  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  particularly  in  the  west,  and  led  to  a 
new  sort  of  warfare  which  we  have  been  called  upon 
to  sustain  in  order  to  rescue  our  institutions  from  re- 
proach, and  to  preserve  our  plans  of  procedure  from 
being  frustrated  by  new  modes  of  attack.  The  sequel 
of  our  history  will  develope  all  these  things,  and  place 
them  in  a  true  point  of  light. 

Bishop  Asbury,  though  he  continued  his  annual 
tour  of  the  continent,  and  attended  the  conferences  in 
company  with  his  colleague.  Bishop  M'Kendree,  be- 
gan to  totter  under  the  infirmities  of  age,  and  frequent 
attacks  of  disease.  He  was  in  New-England  when 
the  proclamation  of  the  president  of  the  United  States 
announced  to  the  people  that  war  was  declared  against 
Great  Britain.  He  who  had  passed  unscathed  through 
a  bloody  contest  of  seven  years'  duration,  suffering 
numerous  hardships  in  striving  to  preserve  a  pure 
conscience  while  propagating  a  religion  of  peace  and 

2 


353  A  HISTORY   Of   THE  fi812. 

good-will,  could  not  behold  the  approach  of  ano- 
ther struggle  of  a  similar  character,  without  feelings 
of  anxiety  and  alarm.  These  he  expressed  in  a  very 
emphatic  manner  to  the  writer  of  these  pages,  remark- 
ing, in  reference  to  our  intercourse  with  our  Canadian 
brethren,  "  there  is  no  mercy  in  war,  and  hence  we 
must  expect  much  suffering  on  our  frontier  settle- 
ments," and  concluded  by  saying,  that  "doubtless  our 
sins  as  a  nation  had  provoked  the  divine  indignation 
against  us,  and  therefore  we  must  expect  to  suffer." 

He,  however,  kept  on  his  way,  exclaiming  with 
pious  resignation,  "  I  live  in  God  from  moment  to 
moment."  Beholding  the  demoralizing  tendency  of 
strong  drink,  in  a  certain  neighbourhood,  he  observes, 
"  They  are  decent  in  their  behaviour,  and  would  be 
more  so,  were  it  not  for  vile  whiskey.  This  is  the 
prime  curse  of  the  United  States,  and  will  be,  I  fear 
much,  the  ruin  of  all  that  is  excellent  in  morals  and 
government  in  them.  Lord,  interpose  thine  arm  !" 
How  would  his  soul  have  expanded  with  gratitude  and 
delight  to  have  beheld  the  temperance  reformation 
which  began  its  salutary  operations  since  his  day  ! 
And  would  he  not  have  deprecated  any  effort  to  weak- 
en its  force,  especially  by  those  who  claim  to  be  his 
sons  in  the  gospel  ? 

After  traversing  various  parts  of  the  country,  often 
trembling  under  the  infirmities  of  a  sickly  body,  cross- 
ing the  Alleghany  mountains,  and  descending  into  the 
valley  of  the  Ohio,  attending  several  camp-meetings  in 
his  route,  he  says,  "  I  shall  have  traveled  six  thousand 
miles  in  eight  months,  met  in  nine  conferences,  and 
have  been  present  in  ten  camp-meetings."  But  then 
he  adds   soon   after,  in  reference  to   his   labors   and 


1812.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  353 

physical  sufferings,  for  such  was  his  debility  that  his 
friends  sometimes  had  to  lift  him  into  his  carriage, 
"  O  let  us  not  complain,  when  we  think  of  the  suffer- 
ing, wounded,  and  dying  of  the  hostile  armies  !  If 
we  suffer,  what  shall  comfort  us?  Let  us  see — Ohio 
will  give  us  six  thousand  for  her  increase  of  members 
in  one  new  district."  This  indeed  was  his  reward  ; 
all  he  asked  or  sought  of  his  labors  and  sufferings. 
And  it  shows  also,  that  notwithstanding  hostile  armies 
were  already  measuring  swords,  the  God  of  Israel  was 
still  at  work  for  the  salvation  of  the  people. 

It  appears,  indeed,  that  in  the  midst  of  the  agitations 
occasioned  by  the  war  which  began  to  rage  on  the 
frontier,  and  in  some  places  upon  the  sea-board,  God 
wrought  in  a  powerful  manner  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  particularly  on  the  James  River  district, 
where  not  less  than  six  hundred  were  brought  into  the 
Church,  chiefly  through  the  agency  of  camp-meetings. 
In  the  New-London  district  also  there  was  a  gracious 
work  of  God,  including  some  towns  in  Rhode  Island, 
in  which  upward  of  one  hundred  souls  were  brought 
into  gospel  fellowship,  some  of  whom  connected  them- 
selves with  other  denominations. 

Forty-eight  were  located  this  year,  ten  returned 
supernumerary,  eighteen  superannuated,  one  was  ex- 
pelled, and  six  had  died.  These  last  were  Samuel 
Mills,  Nathan  Weedon,  Jesse  Pinnell,  Lansford 
Whiting,  Samuel  Thomas,  and  Greenleaf  N.  Norris, 
Some  of  these  had  labored  long  and  faithfully,  and  they 
all  died  witnessing  a  good  confession,  and  are,  no  doubt, 
gathered  to  their  fathers  in  a  better  world. 

2 


354  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  1813. 

Numbers  in  the   Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.        Preachers. 

This  year         156,852      38,505      195,357      678 
Last  year         148,835      35,732      184,567      668 

Increase  8,017        2,773         10,790         10 

1813.  There  were  nine  annual  conferences  this 
year,  the  Mississippi  Conference  which  was  author- 
ized  to  be  formed,  if  the  bishops  saw  it  needful,  not 
having  been  established. 

The  times  were  distressing  along  the  lines  between 
the  United  States  and  the  Canadas,  as  those  places 
were  the  principal  scenes  of  the  war  which  was  now 
raging  with  increasing  violence  between  the  two 
countries.  This  not  only  broke  off  all  friendly  inter- 
course with  each  other,  but  kept  the  inhabitants  in  a 
continual  state  of  alarm  and  irritation,  quite  unfriend- 
ly to  the  progress  of  pure  religion.  But  notwith- 
standing this  state  of  things,  there  were  very  exten- 
sive revivals  of  religion  in  other  places,  so  that  the 
increase  of  members  was  considerably  more  than  it 
had  been  for  several  years  previously,  as  may  be  seen 
below.  Probably  many  were  led  to  pray  more  fer- 
vently and  to  labor  more  faithfully  in  consequence  of 
the  afflictions  which  were  felt  in  the  country,  while 
others  were  induced  to  think  more  seriously  on  their 
latter  end. 

Among  those  who  located  in  the  New-England 
Conference  this  year,  was  Pliny  Brett,  whose  admis 
sion  into  the  conference  had  been  deferred  for  one 
year  at  the  time  he  was  eligible  to  be  received  into 
full  connection.  Soon  after  his  location  he  withdrew 
from  the  Church,  put  himself  at  the  head  of  a  party 
2 


1813.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  355 

under  the  denomination  of  "  Reformed  Methodists." 
He  lured  from  the  Church  several  local  preachers,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  members,  almost  entirely  break- 
ing up  some  small  societies,  and  thereby  occasioned 
much  uneasiness  where  he  commenced  his  operations, 
which  was  in  Cape  Cod,  in  Massachusetts.  From 
thence  his  influence  extended  into  Vermont,  where 
he  was  seconded  in  his  endeavors  to  draw  away  dis- 
ciples after  him  by  a  local  preacher  by  the  name  of 
Baily.  They  succeeded  in  raising  a  considerable 
party,  which,  for  a  short  season,  made  some  inroads 
upon  our  Church;  and  though  Mr.  Baily  succeeded  in 
establishing  some  congregations,  and  still  lives  to 
enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  labors,  yet  the  influence  of  the 
parly  is  very  limited,  and  furnishes  another  evidence 
that  it  requires  a  union  of  deep  piety  and  much  talent 
to  found  a  distinct  denomination  of  sufficient  magnitude 
to  command  public  confidence,  and  to  exert  an  exten- 
sive influence  on  the  community. 

While  these  things  were  testing  the  faith  and  pa- 
tience of  some,  and  "  garments  rolled  in  blood"  were 
frightening  others  with  fearful  apprehensions  for  the 
stability  of  our  political  institutions,  the  faithful  ser- 
vants of  God,  keeping  aloof  as  much  as  possible  from 
the  strife  of  party  and  the  war  of  words,  steadily  pur- 
sued their  way  in  search  of  "  the  lost  sheep  of  the 
house  of  Israel."  It  is  due  to  truth,  however,  to  re- 
mark, that  while  ministers  of  the  gospel,  biased  per- 
haps too  much  by  some  influential  members  of  their 
congregations,  refused  even  to  pray  for  their  rulers 
and   country,"^   Bishop  Asbury,  Avho  had  long  since 

*  It  is  stated,  on  good  authority,  that  in  the  time  of  the  war, 

2 


356  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1813. 

adopted  this  country  as  his  own,  and  most  cordially 
loved  its  institutions,  declared  most  plainly  and  point- 
edly, on  the  floor  of  an  annual  conference,  that  he 
who  refused,  at  this  time  especially,  to  pray  for  his 
country,  deserved  not  the  name  of  a  Christian  or  a 
Christian  minister,  inasmuch  as  it  was  specifically  en- 
joined on  all  such,  not  only  to  honor  magistrates,  but  to 
"  pray  for  all  that  are  in  authority,  that  we  may  lead 
quiet  and  peaceable  lives,  in  all  godliness  and  honesty." 
It  was  very  manifest  to  all  who  saw  him,  that  Bishop 
Asbury  was  sinking  under  the  infirmities  of  a  sickly 
body,  weakened  from  time  to  time  by  exposures  to 
inclement  seasons,  continual  labors,  and  oppressed 
with  a  multitude  of  cares,  known  only  to  those  who 
feel  the  weight  of  such  a  responsible  station. 
Nevertheless,  although  his  friends  sometimes  remon- 
strated against  it,  he  still  performed  his  annual  tour 
of  the  continent,  shunning  no  danger,  deferring  no 
duty  which  might  be  performed  to-day,  from  a  fear 
that  he  should  not  have  strength  for  the  morrow,  but 
both  publicly  and  privately  admonishing  all  who  came 
in  his  way  of  the  danger  of  sin,  and  encouraging  the 
good  to  persevere  in  their  work.  To  aid  him  in 
scattering  the  good  seed  of  the  kingdom,  he  furnished 
himself  with  religious  tracts,  sometimes  getting  them 
printed  at  his  own  expense — for  as  yet  we  had  no 
tract  society — Bibles,  and  Testaments,  which  he  dis- 

a  number  of  clergymen  in  the  city  of  New- York  held  a  meet- 
ing for  the  purpose  of  deliberating  on  the  propriety  of  praying 
for  their  civil  rulers,  and  they  finally  came  to  the  grave  con- 
clusion that  they  could  not  do  it  conscientiously.  This,  how- 
ever, was  by  no  means  the  case  with  all,  though  I  believe  most 
of  the  clergy  in  the  eastern  states  were  very  much  opposed  to 
the  measures  of  the  government. 
2 


1813.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  357 

tributed  among  the  poor ;  and  to  assist  in  extending 
the  work  in  the  poorer  settlements,  he  handed  his 
"  mite  subscription"  to  all  whom  he  considered  able 
to  give,  allowing  no  individual  to  subscribe  over  one 
dollar,  though,  if  they  chose,  each  member  of  the  fa- 
mily might  become  a  donor. 

Apprehensive,  as  it  seems  from  notices  in  hi§  jour- 
nals, that  he  had  not  many  years  to  live,  he  dictated 
a  valedictory  address  to  his  colleague.  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree,  on  the  order  and  institutions  of  the  primitive 
Church  ;  and  on  Friday,  October  29th,  he  says : — "  On 
the  peaceful  banks  of  the  Saluda  I  wrote  my  valedic- 
tory address  to  the  presiding  elders."  In  another 
place  he  speaks  of  having  made  his  will,  in  which  he 
says  that,  through  the  benevolence  of  some  kind 
friends  who  had  died  childless,  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars had  been  bequeathed  to  him,  which  he  should  leave 
to  the  Book  Concern.  "  Let  it  return,"  he  remarks, 
"  and  continue  to  aid  the  cause  of  piety." 

In  the  labors  of  the  conferences  he  often  speaks 
in  terms  of  eulogy  upon  the  help  afforded  him  by 
Bishop  M'Kendree,  who,  if  he  did  not  always  travel 
by  his  side,  generally  met  him  at  the  annual  confer- 
ences, and  discharged  most  of  the  active  duties  of 
president,  and  assisted  in  the  ordinations  and  other  ser- 
vices of  the  sanctuary.  He  needed  not  indeed  any 
other  stimulant  to  active  exertions  than  his  own  burn- 
ing zeal  for  God,  and  the  example  constantly  set  him 
by  his  senior  in  office.  Mutual  affection  and  respect 
bound  them  together,  and  made  them  "  true  yoke-fel- 
lows" in  the  laborious  exercise  of  their  joint  superin- 
tendency.  By  this  means  they  threw  around  the 
general  itinerancy,   and  the  entire  work,  a  weight  of 

2 


358  A   HISTORY   OP   THE  [1813. 

influence  not  easily  resisted,  but  it  was  felt  from  the 
centre  to  the  circuntiference  of  the  connection. 

Thus  by  the  example  of  their  superintendents, 
whose  joint  labors  produced  a  most  happy  effect,  the 
presiding  elders  upon  their  districts,  the  elders,  dea- 
cons, and  preachers  upon  their  several  circuits  and 
stations,  were  stimulated  to  active  diligence,  and  the 
members  of  the  Church  generally  participated  in  the 
spirit  which  actuated  their  leaders.  By  this  united  and 
harmonious  action,  as  before  said,  notwithstanding  the 
noise  of  battle  was  heard  along  the  frontiers,  height- 
ened as  it  sometimes  was  by  the  war-whoop  of  hos- 
tile Indians  who  were  invading  some  of  the  defence- 
less settlements,  the  Church  was  generally  pros- 
perous, sinners  were  converted,  and  saints  "  built  up 
on  their  most  holy  faith." 

Yet  sixty-three  preachers  were  located  !  eleven  be- 
came supernumerary,  twenty  superannuated,  three 
were  expelled,  and  one,  William  B.  Laci/,  withdrew, 
and  afterward  connected  himself  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church. 

Thomas  Bi'anch,  John  Crane,  Jacob  Rumph,  Jesse 
Brown^  William  Young,  Lasley  Matthews,  John  Smith, 
Robert  Hebard,  John  Russell,  and  Ebenezer  White, 
having  fulfilled  their  ministry  with  fidelity,  had  taken 
their  departure  to  another  world  during  the  past  year. 

Numbers  in   the   Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.       Preachers. 

This  year      171,448        42,859      214,307      700 
Last  year      156,852        38,505      195,357      716 

Increase  14,596  4,354        18,950  De.l6* 

*  The  preachers  in  Canada,  owing  to  the  war,  are  not  in- 
2 


1814.3  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  359 

1814.  The  more  than  usual  increase  during  the 
past  year,  in  the  midst  of  the  agitation  of  war  and  its 
attendant  evils,  shows  that  rehgion  had  a  strong  hold 
upon  the  affections  of  the  people,  and  that  while  the 
clarion  of  war  sounded  along  our  frontiers  and  echoed 
over  the  waters  of  the  lakes,  as  well  as  upon  the 
waves  of  the  ocean,  men  were  not  unmindful  of  their 
duty  to  God  and  to  one  another.  Indeed,  those  who 
viewed  war  among  the  sorest  of  God's  judgments, 
and  whose  hearts  were  panting  for  the  return  of 
peace,  were  led  to  humble  themselves  by  fasting  and 
prayer,  that  the  God  of  peace  and  love  might  visit 
his  heritage  more  plentifully  with  the  showers  of  his 
grace.  And  how  much  these  faithful  prayers  might 
have  contributed  to  hasten  a  termination  of  the  bloody 
conflict,  and  to  bring  about  the  blessings  of  peace, 
who  but  the  Omniscient  can  tell  ?  If,  in  answer  to 
the  prayer  of  faith  in  his  Son,  "  He  lets  his  lifted 
thunder  drop" — if  "  God's  hands  or  bound  or  open 
are,  as  Moses  or  Elijah  prays" — and  if  God  would 
spare  the  devoted  "  cities  of  the  plain"  for  the  sake 
of  ten  righteous  persons — may  we  not  believe  that 
he  might  have  inclined  the  hearts  of  the  rulers  of 
Great  Britain  and  America  to  pacific  measures  in 
answer  to  the  prayers  of  his  people  on  both  sides  of 
the  Atlantic  ?  That  there  were  many  such  we  know. 
That  they  deprecated  this  war  as  unnatural,  and  as 
tending  to  desolate  the  earth  in  vain,  is  equally  cer- 
tain.    And  hence  the   united  prayers  of  many  went 


eluded  in  this  enumeration,  which  makes  the  apparent  decrease  : 
nor  are  the  members,  else  the  increase  would  have  appeared 
nearly  three  thousand  more. 

2 


860  A    HISTORY    OP    THE  (1814. 

up  before  the  throne,  that  the  oHve-branch  of  peace 
might  supplant  the  bloody  flag  of  war. 

But  the  time  was  not  yet.  The  war  still  raged 
this  year  with  more  violence  than  ever.  And  per- 
haps party  politics,  particularly  in  the  eastern  section 
of  our  country,  never  ran  higher  than  they  did  about 
this  time.  Indeed,  many  feared  that  a  severance  of 
our  happy  union  would  result  from  this  feverish  ex- 
citement. Yet  the  God  of  our  fathers  would  not 
have  it  so.  Just  as  this  storm  was  ready  to  burst 
upon  our  heads,  he  who  "  rides  upon  the  stormy  sky, 
and  calms  the  roaring  seas,"  appeared  to  hush  the 
contending  elements,  and  to  bid  the  hostile  forces  cease 
their  bloody  strife. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  disastrous  effects  of  these 
things  began  to  be  more  sensibly  felt  on  the  interests 
of  true  religion.  Although  those  who  were  deeply 
devoted  to  God  held  on  their  way,  and  poured  out 
their  desires  to  God  for  the  return  of  peace  and  the 
prosperity  of  the  cause  of  Christ,  yet  many,  lured  by 
the  glare  of  military  glory,  or  seized  with  a  spirit  of 
revenge  for  the  merciless  warfare  waged  by  the  hos- 
tile Indians  on  defenceless  women  and  children,  or 
fired  with  a  zeal  to  vindicate  their  country's  rights 
against  the  invasions  of  their  foes,  in  many  instances, 
having  lost  the  fervor  of  their  piety,  entered  into  the 
war  with  renewed  ardor.  The  enemy  indeed  pushed 
more  closely  upon  us  now  on  every  side.  The  burn- 
ing of  Washington,  the  attack  upon  Baltimore,  and 
the  threatening  attitude  assumed  toward  the  cities  of 
New-York,  Boston,  and  other  places,  and  the  inva- 
sions on  our  frontiers,  roused  a  warlike  feeling 
throughout  the  nation,   and    excited   such  a  general 


1814.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  361 

spirit  of  resistance  to  these  aggressions,  that  for  a 
season  the  spirit  of  religion  seemed  to  be  absorbed 
in  the  feeling  of  patriotisnci,  and  the  war-whoop  took 
the  place  of  thanksgiving  and  prayer  to  God.  Add 
to  this  the  domestic  disputes  arising  from  variant 
opinions  respecting  the  policy  of  the  war,  which  per- 
vaded all  ranks  of  society,  from  the  halls  of  legisla- 
tion to  the  circles  around  the  fireside,  and  we  shall 
see  reasons  enough  why  religion  did  not  prosper  in 
the  hearts  of  the  people  as  it  had  done  heretofore. 

In  the  midst  of  these  "  shakings  and  tremblings," 
on  the  earth,  while  some  were  rejoicing  over  victories 
won  by  our  fleets  upon  the  ocean  and  the  lakes,  or 
boasting  of  the  prowess  exhibited  by  our  armies  upon 
the  land,  and  others  affecting  to  lament  the  superior 
skill  and  bravery  of  our  enemies,  there  were  not  want- 
ing those  who  sighed  in  secret  and  in  public  for  "  the 
abominations  which  make  desolate,"  and  who  exerted 
their  energies  for  the  "  salvation  of  Israel."  These, 
keeping  aloof  as  much  as  possible  from  political 
strife,  were  still  crying  aloud  to  sinners  to  "  repent 
and  give  glory  to  God,"  and  exhorting  His  people  to 
steadfastness  in  the  faith.  And  though  they  did  not 
always  find  the  "  Son  of  peace"  in  every  house  into 
which  they  entered,  yet  the  peace  of  God  rested  upon 
them,  as  the  reward  of  their  endeavors  to  promote 
"  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men." 

A  heavy  affliction  this  year  came  upon  Bishop 
Asbury,  and  for  some  time  his  life  was  lield  in  sus- 
pense. Though  suffering  under  great  bodily  weak- 
ness, by  the  kind  and  unremitting  attention  of  his 
traveling  companion,  Johii  Wesley  Bond,  of  whom 
the  Bishop  speaks  in  terms  of  the  warmest  affection 

Vol.  II.— -16 


362  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1814. 

and  approbation,  he  was  enabled  to  perform  his  usual 
tour  from  one  annual  conference  to  another,  until  he 
arrived,  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  at  Bethel,  in  the 
state  of  New-Jersey.  Here  he  was  seized  with  an 
inflammatory  fever,  with  which  he  suffered  severely, 
and  for  some  time  his  valuable  life  was  despaired  of 
by  his  physicians  and  friends.  Dr.  T.  F.  Sargent,  of 
Philadelphia,  attended  him  as  his  medical  friend,  with 
unremitting  attention  ;  and  the  New-York  Conference, 
then  in  session  in  the  city,  despatched  a  special  mes- 
senger, the  Rev.  Daniel  Hitt,  to  present  to  him  their 
affectionate  respects,  and  to  inquire  after  his  health  ; 
they  were  rejoiced  to  hear  on  his  return,  that  the 
bishop  was  likely  to  recover.  Referring  to  this  event 
in  his  journal,  he  says  : — 

"We  should  have  failed  in  our  march  through  New- 
Jersey,  but  we  have  received  great  kindness  and  atten- 
tions, and  have  had  great  accommodations.  I  return  to 
my  journal  after  an  interval  of  twelve  weeks.  I  have  been 
ill  indeed,  but  medicine,  nursing,  and  kindness,  under  God, 
have  been  so  far  effectual,  that  I  hare  recovered  strength 
enough  to  sit  in  my  little  covered  wagon,  in  which  they 
left  me." — "  I  would  not  be  loved  to  death,  and  so  came 
down  from  my  sick  room,  and  took  to  the  road,  weak 
enough.  Attentions  constant,  and  kindness  unceasing, 
have  pursued  me  to  this  place.  I  look  back  upon  a  mar- 
tyr's life  of  toil  and  privation  and  pain  ;  and  I  am  ready  for 
a  martyr's  death.  The  purity  of  my  intentions — my  dili- 
gence in  the  labors  to  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  call 
me — the  unknown  sufferings  I  have  endured — what  are 
all  these  ?  The  merit,  atonement,  and  righteousness  of 
Christ  alone  make  my  plea.  My  friends  in  Philadelphia 
gave  me  a  light,  four-wheeled  carriage  ;  but  God  and  the 
2  .         . 


1814.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  363 

Baltimore  Conference  made  me  a  richer  present — they 
gave  me  John  Wesley  Bond  as  a  traveling  companion. 
Has  he  his  equal  on  earth  for  excellence  of  every  kind  as 
an  aid  ?  I  groan  one  minute  with  pain,  and  shout  glory 
the  next !" 

And  where  would  the  reader  expect  to  find  this 
sick,  limping,  skeleton  of  a  man  next  ?  Under  the  hands 
of  a  nurse,  beneath  the  roof  of  some  hospitable  mansion, 
surrounded  by  kind-hearted  and  sympathizing  friends  ? 
He  will  be  disappointed.  For  although  after  he  so 
far  recovered  as  to  be  lifted  into  his  "  light,  four- 
wheeled  carriage,"  the  gift  of  his  Philadelphia  friends, 
he  appeared  more  like  a  walking  skeleton  than  a  !#/- 
ing  man  ;  yet  on  the  23d  of  July,  four  days  only  after 
penning  the  above  paragraph,  we  find  him  in  Pitts 
burgh,  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  "  bending 
his  way,"  to  use  his  own  words,  "  dow;n  the  west  side 
of  the  Ohio  to  Swickley,"  where  he  was  detained  two 
days ;  and  thence,  in  company  with  his  faithful  com 
panion,  John  Wesley  Bond,  he  urged  his  way  through 
rough  roads,  swamps,  and  dismal  causeways,  to  Steu 
benville,  where  he  remarks. — "My  health  is  better:" — 
"  I  live  in  patience,  in  purity,  and  the  perfect  love  of 
God."  And  thus  he  performed  his  western  tour, 
sometimes  preaching,  though  unable  to  preside  in  the 
conferences,  and  finally  returned  to  the  Atlantic  states, 
spmewhat  improved  in  health,  borne  up  by  the  con- 
scious smiles  of  his  heavenly  Father,  the  sympa- 
thy and  affectionate  attentions  of  his  numerous  friends. 

But  Bishop  Asbury  never  after  recovered  his  wont- 
ed vigor.  His  countenance  was  fallen  and  pale — his 
limbs  trembled,  and  his  whole  frame  bore  marks  of 
decay.     Indeed,  there  was   a   something  in  his  ap- 

2 


364  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1814 

pearance  which,  while  it  indicated  a  "  soul  full  of 
glory  and  of  God,"  struck  the  beholder  with  an  awe 
which  may  be  better  felt  than  described.  Not  being 
able  to  stand  while  he  addressed  an  assembly,  he  sat 
upon  a  seat  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  while 
ihus  sitting — his  whitened  locks  speaking  the  honors 
of  age,  his  pallid  countenance  testifying  his  general 
debility,  his  head  involuntarily  dropping  forward  until 
the  chin  apparently  rested  upon  his  breast — no  sooner 
did  he  begin  to  speak  than  his  deep  sonorous  voice, 
uttering  words  in  the  name  of  his  God,  would  arouse 
the  attention  of  the  auditory  to  such  thoughts  of  eter- 
nity as  overwhelmed  them  with  breathless  awe  and 
silent  astonishment.  Though  I  can  remember,  I  can- 
not describe,  his  appearance  on  those  occasions.  Some- 
thing, indeed,  more  than  merely  human  seemed  to  light- 
en up  his  countenance  when  his  subject  inspired  him 
with  those  "  thoughts  which  breathe"  and  "  words 
which  burn ;"  and  he  appeared  to  soar  above  the 
infirmities  that  pressed  him  down  on  ordinary  occa- 
sions ;  at  the  same  time  an  unearthly  appearance,  full 
of  dignity,  majesty,  and  yet  softened  with  the  graces 
of  meekness  and  patience,  sat  upon  his  visage  and 
played  through  the  wrinkles  of  his  cheeks. 

Yet  in  the  midst  of  all  these  weaknesses  he 
journeyed  from  place  to  place,  saying,  "  God  is  with 
me  in  all  my  feebleness" — "  My  spiritual  conso- 
lations flow  from  God  in  great  abundance — my  soul 
rejoices  exceedingly  in  God."  Happy  he  who  can 
thus  testify  to  the  goodness  of  God  to  him  personally, 
while  trembling  under  the  infirmities  of  age,  disease, 
care,  and  labor. 

Among  those  who  had  taken  their  departure  to 
2 


1814.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH,  365 

another  world  this  year,  was  the  Rev.  Philip  W. 
Otterbein,  the  German  minister  who  had  assisted  in 
the  consecration  of  Mr.  Asbury  to  the  office  of  a 
bishop,  and  with  whom  he  ever  after  held  an  inti- 
mate. Christian,  and  ministerial  fellowship.  Though 
not  formally  attached  to  the  Methodists,  yet  as  he 
always  favored  their  cause,  invited  them  to  his  pul- 
pit, and  reciprocated  with  them  in  acts  of  brotherly 
love,  it  seems  proper  that  some  notice  should  be  taken 
of  him  in  this  place. 

The  following,  though  it  includes  an  account  of 
several  others  besides  Mr.  Otterbein,  yet  as  it  contains 
interesting  information,  and  would  suffer  from  an 
abridgment,  is  given  as  I  find  it  in  the  Methodist 
Magazine,  vol.  vi.,  pp.  210,  249.  It  was  furnished 
at  the  special  request  of  Bishop  Asbury,  some  time  be- 
fore his  death,  by  his  friend,  F.  Hollingsworth,  who 
transcribed  the  bishop's  journal,  and  prepared  it  for 
the  press.     It  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Jacob  Boehm,  the  great  grandfather  of  one  of  the 
distinguished  subjects  of  the  following  notices,  was  of  a 
respectable  family  in  Switzerland  ;  and,  as  is  presumed,  a 
member  of  the  German  Presbyterian  Church.  His  son 
Jacob  was  put  to  a  trade  ;  and  after  faithfully  serving  out 
his  time,  he,  according  to  the  custom  of  his  country,  set 
out  upon  his  three  years'  travels.  In  his  wanderings 
through  Germany  he  fell  in  with  the  Pietists ;  a  people  in 
their  faith,  discipline,  and  worship,  resembling,  in  a  good 
degree,  the  Methodists,  but  more  closely  the  societies  and 
congregations  formed  by  William  Otterbein  and  Martin 
Boehm.  Upon  our  traveler's  return  to  the  parental  roof 
he  talked  in  a  style  that  neither  his  father  nor  the  parson 
could  comprehend  ;  they  were  natural  men,  and  under- 

2 


866  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1814. 

Stood  not  the  things  of  God.  His  evangelical  conversa- 
tion, mingled,  most  probably,  with  reproof  of  the  vices  and 
Pharisaism  of  the  day,  brought,  by  necessary  consequence, 
persecution  upon  him  ;  and  he  was  sent,  guarded  by  an 
elder  brother,  to  prison.  He  escaped,  however,  from  his 
confinement,  and  sought  a  refuge  in  Germany,  where  he 
remained,  having  settled  near  the  Rhine.  He  shortly  after 
attached  himself  to  the  Menonists,  became  an  honored 
elder  in  that  church,  and,  we  trust,  died  in  the  Lord.  His 
son  Jacob,  the  third,  was  also  a  member  in  the  Menonist 
church.  He  gave  an  example  of  sobriety,  temperance, 
and  industry  to  his  children  and  neighborhood  before  and 
after  his  emigration  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1716  or  '17  ;  and 
was  honored  in  both  countries.  As  a  professor  of  religion 
he  lived  up  to  the  light  he  had  ;  but  it  was  under  the  min- 
istry of  his  better  instructed  son,  Martin  Boehm,  that  he 
was  blest  with  superior  illumination.  He  died  in  peace 
at  the  family  plantation,  on  Pecaway,  Conestoga  township, 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 
The  son  of  Jacob  Boehm  the  third,  Martin  Boehm,  of  whom 
we  desire  to  speak  more  particularly,  was  born  in  Novem- 
ber, 1725.  The  labors  and  experience  of  his  life,  as  a 
professor  of  religion  and  minister  of  Christ,  may  be  pretty 
justly  estimated  by  what  we  learn  from  himself,  commu- 
nicated in  answers  to  certain  questions  propounded  to  him 
by  his  son  Jacob,  which  we  here  transcribe  : — 

'  Quest.  Father,  when  were  you  put  into  the  ministry  V 

*  Ans.  My  ministerial  labors  began  about  the  year 
1756.  Three  years  afterward,  by  nomination  of  the  lot,  I 
received  full  pastoral  orders.' 

*  Quest.  What  had  been  your  religious  experience  at 
that  time  V 

'  Ans.    I  was  sincere  and  strict  in  the  religious  duties 
of  prayer  in  my  family,  in  the  congregation,  and  in   the 
closet.     I  lived  and  preached  according  to  the  light  I  had. 
2 


1814.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  367 

I  was  a  servant,  and  not  a  son ;  nor  did  I  know  any  one 
at  that  time  who  could  claim  the  birthright  by  adoption 
but  Nancy  Keagy,  my  mother's  sister ;  she  was  a  woman 
of  great  piety  and  singular  devotion  to  God.' 

'  Quest.  By  what  means  did  you  discover  the  nature  and 
necessity  of  a  real  change  of  heart  V 

^Ans.  By  deep  meditation  upon  the  doctrines  which 
I  myself  preached  of  the  fall  of  man,  his  sinful  state,  and 
utter  helplessness,  I  discovered  and  felt  the  want  of  Christ 
within.  About  the  year  1761,  hearing  of  a  great  work  of 
God  in  New-Virginia  among  the  New-Lights^  as  they 
were  called,  I  resolved  to  find  the  truth  more  fully.  I 
accordingly  visited  those  parts,  and  saw  many  gracious 
souls  who  could  give  a  rational  and  Scriptural  account  of 
their  experience  and  acceptance  with  God ;  these  assu- 
rances roused  me  to  greater  efforts  to  obtain  the  blessing. 
On  my  return,  very  large  congregations  assembled  to  hear 
the  word,  not  only  on  the  Sabbaths,  but  on  week-days 
also.  My  zeal  displeased  some  of  my  brethren  in  the 
ministry  ;  but  my  heart  was  enlarged,  and  I  had  an  earnest 
travail  of  soul  to  extend  the  knowledge  of  salvation  to  Jew 
and  Gentile.  I  enlarged  the  sphere  of  my  labors  as  much 
as  my  situation  in  life  would  permit.' 

'  Quest.  Were  your  labors  owned  of  the  Lord  in  the 
awakening  and  conversion  of  souls  V 

'  Ans.  Yes  :  many  were  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth.  But  it  was  a  strange  work ;  and  some  of  the 
Menonist  meeting-houses  were  closed  against  me.  Never- 
theless, I  was  received  in  other  places.  I  now  preached 
the  gospel  spiritually  and  powerfully.  Some  years  after- 
ward I  was  excommunicated  from  the  Menonist  Church  on 
a  charge,  truly  enough  advanced,  of  holding  fellowship 
with  other  societies  of  a  different  language.  I  had  invited 
the  Menonites  to  my  house,  and  they  soon  formed  the  so- 
ciety in  the  neighborhood  which  exists  to  this  day :  my 

2 


868        '  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1814 

beloved  wife  Eve,  my  children,  and  my  cousin  Keagy's 
family,  were  among  the  first  of  its  members.  For  myself, 
I  felt  my  heart  more  greatly  enlarged  toward  all  religious 
persons  and  to  all  denominations  of  Christians.  Upward  of 
thirty  years  ago  I  became  acquainted  with  my  greatly  be- 
loved brother,  William  Otterbein,  and  several  other  minis- 
ters, who  about  this  time  had  been  ejected  from  their 
churches,  as  I  had  been  from  mine,  because  of  their  zeal, 
which  was  looked  upon  as  an  irregularity.  We  held  many 
and  large  meetings  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  New- 
Virginia,  which  generally  lasted  three  days  :  at  these 
meetings  hundreds  were  made  the  subjects  of  penitence 
and  pardon.  Being  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  order 
and  discipline  in  the  church  of  God,  and  having  no  wish 
to  be  at  the  head  of  a  separate  body,  I  advised  serious  per- 
sons to  join  the  Methodists,  whose  doctrine,  discipline,  and 
zeal  suited,  as  I  thought,  an  unlearned,  sincere,  and  simple- 
hearted  people.  Several  of  the  ministers  with  whom  I  la- 
bored, continued  to  meet  in  a  conference  of  the  German 
United  Brethren  ;  but  we  felt  the  difficulties  arising  from 
the  want  of  that  which  the  Methodists  possessed.  Age 
having  overtaken  me,  with  some  of  its  accompanying  in- 
firmities, I  could  not  travel  as  I  had  formerly  done.  In 
1802  I  enrolled  my  name  on  a  Methodist  class-book,  and 
I  have  found  great  comfort  in  meeting  with  my  brethren, 
I  can  truly  say  my  last  days  are  my  best  days.  My  be- 
loved Eve  is  traveling  with  me  the  same  road  Zionward ; 
my  children,  and  most  of  my  grand-children,  are  made 
the  happy  partakers  of  the  same  grace.  I  am,  this  r2th 
of  April,  1811,  in  my  eighty-sixth  year.  Through  the 
boundless  goodness  of  my  God,  I  am  still  able  to  visit  the 
sick,  and  occasionally,  to  preach  in  the  neighborhood :  to 
his  name  be  all  the  glory  in  Christ  Jesus  !' 

"  Martin  Boehm  died  on  the  23d  of  March,  1812.    His 
death  was  thought  to  have  been  hastened  by  an  imprudent 
2 


1814.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  r)69 

change  of  dress.  Bishop  Asbury,  in  a  sermon  preached 
upon  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  his  long-known  and 
long-loved  friend,  improved  the  opportunity  by  mentioning 
some  further  particulars  of  him,  of  his  friends,  and  of  the 
work  of  God  in  which  he  and  ihey  had  labored.  His 
observations  are,  with  the  alteration  and  substitution  of  a 
few  sentences  and  words,  as  follow  : — '  Martin  Boehm  had 
frequent  and  severe  conflicts  in  his  own  mind,  produced 
by  the  necessity  he  felt  himself  under  of  oflfending  his 
Menonist  brethren  by  the  zeal  and  doctrines  of  his  minis- 
try :  some  he  gained  ;  but  most  of  them  opposed  him.  He 
had  difficulties  also  with  his  United  Brethren.  It  was  late 
in  life  that  he  joined  the  Methodists,  to  whom,  long  be- 
fore, his  wife  and  children  had  attached  themselves  :  the 
head  of  the  house  had  two  societies  to  pass  through  to  ar- 
rive at  the  Methodists,  and  his  meek  and  quiet  spirit  kept 
him  back.  Honest  and  unsuspecting,  he  had  not  a  strange 
face  for  strange  people.  He  did  not  make  the  gospel  a 
charge  to  any  one  ;  his  reward  was  souls  and  glory.  His 
conversation  was  in  heaven.  Plain  in  dress  and  manners, 
when  age  had  stamped  its  impress  of  reverence  upon  him, 
he  filled  the  mind  with  the  noble  idea  of  a  patriarch.  At 
the  head  of  a  family,  a  father,  a  neighbor,  a  friend,  a  com- 
panion, there  was  one  prominent  feature  of  his  character 
which  distinguished  him  from  most  men  ; — it  was  good- 
ness ;  you  felt  that  he  was  good.  His  mind  was  strong 
and  well  stored  with  the  learning  necessary  for  one  whose 
aim  is  to  preach  Christ  with  apostolic  zeal  and  simplicity. 
The  virtue  of  hospitality  was  practised  by  his  family  as  a 
matter  of  course  ;  and  in  following  the  impulse  of  their 
own  generous  natures,  the  members  of  his  household 
obeyed  the  oft-repeated  charge  of  their  head  to  open  his 
doors  to  the  houseless,  that  the  weary  might  be  solaced 
and  the  hungry  fed.  And  what  a  family  was  here  pre- 
sented to  an  observant  visiter !  Here  was  order,  quiet, 
16*  2 


370  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1814 

occupation.  The  father,  if  not  absent  on  a  journey  of 
five  hundred  miles  in  cold,  hunger,  privations,  and  labor, 
proclaiming  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  his  dispersed 
German  brethren,  might,  by  his  conduct  under  his  own 
roof,  explain  to  a  careful  looker-on  the  secret  of  a  parent's 
success  in  rearing  a  family  to  the  duties  of  piety,  to  the 
diligent  and  useful  occupation  of  time,  and  to  the  uninter- 
rupted exhibition  of  reflected  and  reciprocated  love,  esteem, 
and  kindness  in  word  and  deed.  If  it  is  true,  as  is  gene- 
rally believed,  that  the  mother  does  much  toward  forming 
the  character  of  their  children,  it  will  be  readily  allowed 
that  Martin  Boehm  had  an  able  help-mate  in  his  pious 
wife.  The  offspring  of  this  noble  pair  have  done  them 
honor  : — the  son  Jacob,  immediately  upon  his  marriage, 
took  on  himself  the  management  of  the  farm,  that  his  ex- 
cellent father  might,  '  without  carefulness,'  extend  his  la- 
bors more  far  and  wide.  A  younger  son,  Henry,  is  a 
useful  minister  in  the  Methodist  connection,  having  the 
advantage  of  being  able  to  preach  in  English  and  German. 
We  are  willing  to  hope  that  the  children  of  Martin  Boehm, 
and  his  children's  children  to  the  third  and  fourth  and 
latest  generations,  will  have  cause  to  thank  God  that  his 
house,  for  fifty  years,  has  been  a  house  for  the  welcome 
reception  of  gospel  ministers,  and  one  in  which  the  wor- 
ship of  God  has  been  uninterruptedly  preserved  and  prac- 
tised !  O  ye  children  and  grandchildren  !  O,  rising  gene- 
ration, who  have  so  often  heard  the  prayers  of  this  man 
of  God  in  the  houses  of  your  fathers  !  O,  ye  Germans,  to 
whom  he  has  long  preached  the  word  of  truth,  Martin 
Boehm  being  dead  yet  speaketh  ! — O  hear  his  voice  from 
the  grave,  exhorting  you  to  repent,  to  believe,  and  to  obey.' 
"  But  our  beloved  brother,  who  has  gone  to  his  high  re- 
ward, was  not  the  only  laborer  in  the  vineyard.  Will  it 
be  hazarding  too  much  to  say  that  in  Pennsylvania,  Ma- 
ryland, and  Virginia,  there  were  one  hundred  preachers  and 


1814.1  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  371 

twenty  thousand  people  in  the  communion  of  the  United 
Brethren  ?  Many  of  these  faithful  men  have  gone  to 
glory ;  and  many  are  yet  alive  to  preach  to  congregated 
thousands.  Pre-eminent  among  these  is  William  Otter- 
bein,  who  assisted  in  the  ordination  which  set  apart  your 
speaker  to  the  superintendency  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  William  Otterbein  was  regularly  ordained 
to  the  ministry  in  the  German  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
is  one  of  the  best  scholars  and  the  greatest  divines  in 
America.  Why  then  is  he  not  where  he  began  ?  He  was 
irregular.  Alas,  for  us  ;  the  zealous  are  necessarily  so  to 
those  whose  cry  has  been,  ^mt  me  into  the  priests^  office^ 
that  I  may  eat  a  morsel  of  bread.  Ostervald  has  observed, 
'  Hell  is  paved  with  the  skulls  of  unfaithful  ministers.' 
Such  was  not  Boehm.  Such  is  not  Otterbein  ;  and  now, 
his  sun  of  life  is  setting  in  brightness  :  behold  the  saint 
of  God  leaning  upon  his  staff,  waiting  for  the  chariots  of 
Israel ! 

"  I  pause  here  to  indulge  in  reflections  upon  the  past. 
Why  was  the  German  reformation  in  the  middle  states, 
that  sprang  up  with  Boehm,  Otterbein,  and  their  helpers, 
not  more  perfect  ?  Was  money,  was  labor  made  a  con- 
sideration with  these  primitive  men  ?  No  ;  they  wanted 
not  the  one,  and  heeded  not  the  other.  They  all  had  had 
church  membership,  as  Presbyterians,  Lutherans,  Mora- 
vians, Dunkers,  Menonists.  The  spiritual  men  of  these 
societies  generally  united  with  the  reformers  ;  but  they 
brought  along  with  them  the  formalities,  superstitions,  and 
peculiar  opinions  of  religious  education.  There  was  no 
master-spirit  to  rise  up  and  organize  and  lead  them.  Some 
of  the  ministers  located,  and  only  added  to  their  charge 
partial  traveling  labors  ;  and  all  were  independent.  It  re- 
mains to  be  proved  whether  a  reformation,  in  any  country, 
or  under  any  circumstances,  can  be  perpetuated  without 
a  well-directed  itinerancy.     But  these  faithful  men  of  God 

2 


$72  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

were  not  the  less  zealous  in  declaring  the  truth  because 
they  failed  to  erect  a  church  government.  This  was 
wished  for  by  many  ;  and  among  the  first,  perhaps,  to  dis- 
cover the  necessity  of  discipline  and  order,  was  Benedict 
Swoape  of  Pipe-creek,  Frederick  county :  he  became  Ot- 
terbein's  prompter  as  early  as  1772,  and  called  upon  him 
to  translate  the  general  rules  of  the  Methodists,  and  ex- 
plain to  their  German  brethren,  wandering  as  sheep  with- 
out a  shepherd,  their  nature,  design,  and  efficacy.  Otter- 
bein,  one  of  the  wisest  and  best  of  men,  could  only  ap- 
prove :  when  urged  to  put  himself  forward  as  a  leader, 
his  great  modesty  and  diffidence  of  himself  forbade  his 
acceptance  of  so  high  a  trust.  His  journeys,  neverthe- 
less, were  long, his  visits  frequent,  and  his  labors  constant; 
so  that,  after  he  came  to  Baltimore,  he  might  be  called  a 
traveling  preacher,  until  age  and  infirmities  compelled  him 
to  be  still.  Surely  I  should  not  forget  his  helpers.  I  may 
mention  once  more  Benedict  Swoape  :  he  removed  to 
Kentucky,  and  preached  until  near  his  death  at  eighty 
years  of  age.  There  was  the  brother-in-law  of  Otterbein, 
and  his  great  friend,  Doctor  Hendel,  a  man  of  talents,  let- 
tered and  pious,  and  a  great  preacher.  Hendel  was  first 
stationed,  as  a  German  Presbyterian  minister,  in  Tulpa- 
hocking  and  Lancaster,  and  his  last  labors  were  in  Phila- 
delphia, where,  late  in  life,  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow 
fever  of  1798.  Wagner,  a  pupil  of  Otterbein's,  was  sta- 
tioned in  Little-York,  Pennsylvania,  and  permanently, 
thereafter,  in  Fredericktown,  Maryland  :  he  was,  we  have 
reason  to  hope,  a  good  and  useful  servant  of  his  Lord. 
Henry  Widener,  first  a  great  sinner,  and  afterward  a  great 
saint,  was  a  native  of  Switzerland  ;  as  is  usual  with  his 
educated  countrymen,  he  spoke  in  German  and  French 
with  equal  fluency.  His  preaching  was  acceptable  and 
useful ;  he  had  for  the  companion  of  his  itinerant  labors, 
John  Hagerty ;  and  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  was  preached 
2 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCM.  373 

by  these  men  in  German  and  English  to  thousands  be- 
tween the  north  and  south  branches  of  the  Potomac.  Wi- 
dener  died  in  peace  near  Baltimore.  Hagerty  is  still 
with  us.  George  Adam  Gedding,  a  native  of  Germany, 
has  been  a  most  acceptable  man  in  the  work  :  he  still 
lives  near  Sharpesburg,  in  Maryland.  Christian  New- 
comer, near  Hagerstown  in  Maryland,  has  labored  and 
traveled  many  years.  His  heart's  desire  has  always  been 
to  effect  a  union  between  his  German  brethren  and  the 
Methodists.  Are  there  many  that  fear  God  who  have 
passed  by  his  house  and  have  not  heard  of  or  witnessed 
the  piety  and  hospitality  of  these  Newcomers  ?  Worthy 
people  ! 

"  I  will  not  forget  Abraham  Traxall,  now  in  the  west  of 
Pennsylvania  :  a  most  acceptable  preacher  of  method  and 
energy.  Henry  and  Christian  Crumb,  twin-brothers  born, 
and  twin-souls  in  zeal  and  experience  :  these  were  holy, 
good  men,  and  members  of  both  societies.  John  Hersay, 
formerly  a  Menonist ;  an  Israelite  :  he  is  gone  to  rest. 
Abraham  and  Christian  Hersay ;  occasional  itinerants, 
good  men  ;  busy  and  zealous.  David  Snyder  possessing 
gifts  to  make  himself  useful.  Neisch  Wanger,  a  good 
man  and  good  preacher.  Most  of  these  men  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  May  I  name  Leonard  Harburgh,  once 
famous,  gifted,  laborious,  useful  ?  He  is  now  only  a  great 
mechanic,  alas !  The  flame  of  German  zeal  has  moved 
westward  with  emigration.  In  Ohio  we  have  Andrew 
Teller,  and  Benedem,  men  of  God,  intrusted  with  a  weighty 
charge,  subjecting  them  to  great  labors.  But  our  German 
lathers  have  lost  many  of  their  spiritual  ch^ren.  Some 
have  led  away  disciples  after  them,  and  established  inde- 
pendent churches  ;  some  have  returned  whence  they  or 
their  fathers  came  ;  and  some  have  joined  the  Dutch  Bap- 
tists. Our  German  reformers  have  left  no  journal  or  re- 
cord, that  I  have  seen  or  heard  of   by  which  we  might 

2 


374  A   HISTORY    OF   THE 

learn  the  extent  of  their  labors  ;  but  from  Tennessee, 
where  the  excellent  Baker  labored  and  died,  through  Vir- 
ginia and  Maryland  into  Pennsylvania,  as  far  eastward  as 
Buck's  and  Berk's  counties,  the  effects  of  their  ministry 
were  happily  seen  and  felt.  We  feel  ourselves  at  liberty 
to  believe  that  these  German  heralds  of  grace  congregated 
one  hundred  thousand  souls  ;  that  they  have  had  twenty 
thousand  in  fellowship  and  communion,  and  one  hundred 
zealous  and  acceptable  preachers. 

"  The  following  paper  was  found  in  the  hand-writing 
of  Bishop  Asbury,  and,  as  it  is  believed,  ot  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Otterbein  : — 

*  To  the  Rev.  William  Otterbein. 
Sir, — Where  were  you  born  V 

Ans.  In  Nassau,  Dillenburg,  in  Germany. 

Quest.  How  many  years  had  you  lived  in  your  native 
land? 

Ans.  Twenty-six  years. 

Quest.   How  many  years  have  you  resided  in  America? 

Ans.  Sixty  years,  come  next  August 

Quest.  Where  were  you  educated  ? 

Ans.  In  Herborn  ;  in  an  academy. 

Quest.  What  languages  and  sciences  were  you  taught  ? 

Ans.  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  philosophy,  and  divinity. 

Quest.  In  what  order  were  you  set  apart  for  the  min- 
istry ? 

Ans.  The  Presbyterian  form  and  order. 

Quest.  What  ministers  assisted  in  your  ordination  ? 
'    Ans.  Shrim  and  Klinghoaffer. 

Quest.  Wl^e  have  you  had  charge  of  congregations 
in  America  ? 

Ans.  First  in  Lancaster  ;  in  Tulpahocking,  in  Frede- 
ricktown  in  Maryland,  in  Little-York  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  Baltimore. 

Quest.  In   what  parts  of  the   United   States  have  you 
2 


METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  375 

frequently  traveled  through,  in  the  prosecution  of  your 
ministerial  labors  ? 

Ans.  In  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Pennsylvania. 

Quest.  How  many  years  of  your  life,  since  you 
came  to  this  country,  were  you  in  a  great  measure  an 
itinerant  1 

Ans.  The  chief  of  the  time  since  my  coming  to  this 
continent,  but  more  largely  since  coming  to  Baltimore. 

Quest.  By  what  means  were  you  brought  to  the  gospel 
knowledge  of  God  and  our  Saviour  ? 

Ans.  By  degrees  was  I  brought  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth  while  in  Lancaster. 

Quest.  Have  you  an  unshaken  confidence  in  God 
through  Christ  of  your  justification,  sanctification,  and  sure 
hope  of  glorification  ? 

Ans.  The  Lord  has  been  good  to  me ;  and  no  doubt 
remains  in  my  mind  but  he  will  be  good  ;  and  I  can  now 
praise  him  for  the  hope  of  a  better  life. 

Quest.  Have  you  ever  kept  any  account  of  the  seals  to 
your  ministry  ? 

Ans.  None. 

Quest.  Have  you  ever  taken  an  account  of  the  members 
in  the  societies  of  the  United  German  Brethren  ? 

Ans.  Only  what  are  in  Baltimore. 

Quest.  Have  you  taken  any  account  of  the  brethren  in- 
troduced into  the  ministry  immediately  by  yourself,  and 
sent  out  by  you  ?  Can  you  give  the  names  of  the  living 
and  the  dead  ? 

Ans.  Henry  Widener,  Henry  Becker,  Simon  Herre,  in 
Virginia ;  these  are  gone  to  their  reward.  Newcomer 
can  give  the  names  of  the  living. 

Quest.  What  ministerial  brethren  who  have  been  your 
helpers,  can  you  speak  of  with  pleasure,  and  whose  names 
are  precious  ? 

Ans.  Guedick,  Widener,  Herre.  Newcomer,  and  others, 

2 


376  A  HISTORY  OP  THE  [1814. 

Quest.  What  is  your  mind  concerning  John  Wesley, 
and  the  order  of  Methodists  in  America  ? 

Ans.  I  think  highly  of  John  Wesley.  I  think  well  of 
the  Methodists  in  America. 

Quest.  What  are  your  views  of  the  present  state  of  the 
church  of  Christ  in  Europe  and  America,  and  of  prophecy  ? 

A71S.  In  continental  Europe  the  church  has  lost,  in  a 
great  degree,  the  light  of  truth.  In  England  and  America 
the  light  still  shines.  Prophecy  is  hastening  to  its  accom- 
pUshment. 

Quest.  Will  you  give  any  commandment  concerning 
your  bones,  and  the  memoirs  of  your  life  ?  your  children 
in  Christ  will  not  suffer  you  to  die  unnoticed.' 

No  answer  to  this  last  question." 

In  his  journal  the  bishop  makes  the  following  re- 
marks respecting  Mr.  Otterbein  : — 

"  By  request  I  discoursed  on  the  character  of  the  angel 
of  the  Church  of  Philadelphia,  in  allusion  to  P.  W.  Otter- 
bein— the  holy,  the  great  Otterbein — whose  funeral  dis- 
course it  was  intended  to  be.  Solemnity  marked  the 
silent  meeting  in  the  German  Church,  where  were  assem- 
bled the  members  of  our  conference  and  many  of  the 
clergy  of  the  city.  Forty  years  have  I  known  the  retiring 
modesty  of  this  man  of  God — towering  majestic  above  his 
fellows  in  learning,  wisdom,  and  grace,  yet  seeking  to  be 
known  only  of  God  and  the  people  of  God.  He  had  been 
sixty  years  a  minister,  fifty  years  a  converted  one." 

This  year  also,  the  Church,  in  both  hemispheres, 
was  called  to  mourn  over  the  death  of  Dr.  Coke. 
Having  been  released  in  1808,  from  his  obligations 
to  the  American  conference,  he  devoted  himself 
thenceforward  to  the  cause  of  God  in  Europe,  with 
his  accustomed  zeal  and  fervor,  but  more  especially 
2 


1814.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  377 

to  the  cause  of  missions.  While  engaged  in  this 
work  his  attention  was  directed  to  the  deplorable  state 
of  things  in  British  India.  The  researches  of  Bu- 
chanan, and  the  accounts  of  others  who  had  traveled 
in  that  country,  had  awakened  a  zeal  in  the  hearts  of 
British  Christians  for  the  salvation  of  the  idolaters  of 
Asia,  which  now  burned  with  intense  ardor  in  the 
breast  of  Dr.  Coke,  and  he  determined,  if  Providence 
favored  his  design,  to  establish  a  mission  for  their 
benefit.  Having  made  the  necessary  preparations,  in 
company  with  seven  others  whom  he  had  selected  to 
accompany  him  as  assistant  missionaries,  on  the  30th 
of  December,  1813,  he  took  an  affectionate  leave  of 
his  friends  at  Portsmouth,  and  on  the  1st  of  January, 
1814,  they  all  proceeded  down  the  English  Channel, 
and  slowly  entered  upon  that  voyage  which  for  ever 
separated  Dr.  Coke  from  the  land  of  his  nativity  and 
the  scene  of  his  active  labors. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  day  of  May,  1814,  in 
latitude  two  degrees  twenty  minutes  south,  and  longi- 
tude fifty-nine  degrees  twenty-nine  minutes  east  from 
London,  when  the  servant  went,  according  to  his  or- 
ders, to  call  Dr.  Coke  from  his  slumbers,  on  opening 
the  door  of  his  cabin,  he  found,  to  his  utter  amaze- 
ment, the  body  of  the  doctor  stretched  lifeless  upon 
the  floor  !  The  intelligence  of  this  mournful  event  be- 
ing communicated  first  to  the  captain  of  the  ship,  and 
then,  at  his  request,  to  the  missionaries,  produced,  as 
might  be  expected,  a  sensation  of  sorrow  not  easily 
described.  It  was  supposed  by  the  medical  gentle- 
men who,  at  the  request  of  the  missionaries,  made  a 
post  mortem  examination,  that  he  died  of  a  fit  of  apo- 
plexy.    As  his  body  was  stiff  and  cold  when  it  was 

2 


378  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  tl814. 

discovered,  at  about  half  past  five  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  was  found  stretched  upon  the  floor,  it  was 
concluded  that,  feeling  unwell  in  the  night,  he  had 
arisen  from  his  bed  to  obtain  some  medicine,  when 
he  fell  at  about  midnight  to  rise  no  more  until  the 
resurrection  of  the  just  and  unjust. 

Finding  it  impracticable  to  preserve  the  corpse  in 
that  hot  climate  to  be  brought  back  to  England,  ac- 
cording to  his  request  in  his  will,  to  be  deposited  by 
the  side  of  his  two  wives  whom  he  had  buried  in  Bre- 
con, his  native  town  in  Wales,  at  about  half  past  five 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  of  the  same  day,  the  dead  body  was 
committed  to  the  deep  with  suitable  religious  ceremo- 
nies, the  performance  of  which,  under  these  solemn 
circumstances,  produced  very  serious  impressions  on 
all  present. 

Thus  ended  the  life  and  labors  of  Thomas  Cokey 
LL.D.,  and  first  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  And 
while  we  record  his  death,  we  cannot  well  forget  the 
many  obligations  we,  as  a  Church,  are  under  to  him 
for  his  most  zealous  and  disinterested  labors  among  us 
in  the  infancy  of  our  Church,  and  the  consequent  fee- 
bleness in  which  we  were  when  he  first  visited  our  Zion. 

It  is  not,  however,  my  intention  to  attempt  a  por- 
traiture of  his  character,  nor  to  enumerate  the  instances 
of  his  labors  and  sacrifices.  This  has  been  amply 
and  ably  done  by  his  biographer,  to  whom  the  reader 
is  referred  for  a  full  account  of  the  life,  education,  con- 
version, and  ministerial  labors,  both  as  a  preacher  and 
writer,  of  Dr.  Coke.  And  the  preceding  pages  will 
show  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  the  relation  he  sustained 
3 


1814.3  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  379 

to  US,  the  labors  he  performed  and-  the  Hvely  interest 
he  manifested  in  the  welfare  of  American  Methodism. 
It  is  due,  nevertheless,  to  him  and  to  the  cause  he 
contributed  so  materially  to  aid  in  this  country,  to  say, 
that  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  no  less  than  eighteen 
times,  at  his  own  expense,  to  serve  his  American  bre- 
thren— that  while  here  he  exerted  a  powerful  and 
salutary  influence  in  favor  of  pure  religion,  by  his 
preaching  and  the  weight  of  his  character — and  that, 
though  he  might,  on  one  or  two  occasions,  have 
incautiously  committed  himself  and  his  brethren 
to  those  who  watched  his  movements  not  with  the 
most  friendly  eye,  yet  he  deserves  and  receives  the 
thankful  and  affectionate  remembrance  of  those  who 
have  been  benefitted  by  his  labors,  and  know  how  to 
appreciate  his  excellences. 

And  if  at  any  time  he  was  not  treated,  in  his  inter- 
course with  his  American  brethren,  with  that  respect- 
ful attention  which  was  due  to  his  character — as  was 
doubtless  the  case — he  manifested  the  spirit  of  his 
Master  and  Saviour,  in  throwing  overall  such  instances 
of  human  frailty  the  mantle  of  forgiveness  and  oblivion, 
neither  abating  the  ardor  of  his  love  nor  slackening 
the  speed  of  his  diligence  to  do  them  good,  by  serv- 
ing them  so  long  as  his  services  were  required.  And 
if  his  spirit,  disenthralled  from  its  cumbersome  house 
of  clay,  is  now  permitted  to  look  from  its  mansion 
above,  over  the  wide  space  covered  by  the  ministry 
and  Church  he  helped  to  organize  and  set  in  motion, 
he  no  doubt  derives  one  source  of  his  joy  from  the 
recollection  of  what  he-  suffered  and  did  in  maturing 
and  executing  the  plans  which  have  resulted  in  the 
ledemption    and    salvation    of   so    many   souls,    and 

.       '  2 


380  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1814. 

looking  up  to  the  holy  throne,  he  unites  with  all  the 
redeemed  from  among  men,  in  ascribing  th^  honor  of 
all  this  to  God  and  the  Lamb. 

At  the  session  o-f  the  New-York  conference  in 
1815,  which  assembled  that  year  in  the  city  of  Al- 
bany on  the  12th  day  of  May,  the  melancholy  news 
of  Dr.  Coke's  sudden  death  had  just  reached  our 
shores  through  the  public  papers,  and,  at  the  request 
of  the  conference,  Bishop  Asbury  preached  his  fune- 
ral discourse.  In  this  discourse  the  bishop  bore  am- 
ple testimony  to  the  exalted  character,  the  Christian 
and  ministerial  virtues,  of  his  deceased  friend  and  col- 
league. The  following  are  some  of  his  remarks,  as 
I  find  them  recorded  in  his  journal : — 

"  He  was  of  the  third  branch  of  the  Oxonian  Me- 
thodists— of  blessed  mind  and  soul — a  gentleman,  a 
scholar,  and  a  bishop  to  us — as  a  minister  of  Christ, 
in  zeal,  in  labors,  and  in  services,  the  greatest  man  of 
the  last  century." 

Locations  still  continued  to  weaken  the  ranks  of 
the  itinerancy  by  forcing  us  to  supply  the  circuits 
with  young  and  inexperienced  men,  who,  though  they 
were  zealous  and  active,  were  necessarily  deficient 
in  that  sound  practical  wisdom  which  is  desirable  in 
the  ministry,  more  especially  for  the  judicious  adminis- 
tration of  discipline.  No  less  than  sixty-five  were 
located  this  year,  namely,  in  the  Ohio  conference  nine, 
the  Tennessee  five,  the  South  Carolina  twelve,  the 
Virginia  fifteen,  the  Baltimore  five,  the  Philadelphia 
seven,  New-York  one,"^  New-England  eight,  and  Gene- 

*  For  a  few  years  past,  some  of  the  older  members  of  the 
New-York  conference,  deprecating  the  weakening  effects  of 
these  numerous  locations,  determined  to  hold  on  to  the  itine- 
2 


1815.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  381 

see  three.  There  were  twenty  returned  on  the  su- 
pernumerary list,  and  twenty-two  on  the  superannu- 
ated, and  one  was  expelled.  Ralph  Lotspeich,  Le- 
roy  Merj'itt,  William  Mills,  Peter  Moriarti/,  Francis 
Ward,  Abner  Clark,  and  Arming  Owen,  having  ful- 
filled their  ministry  with  fidelity,  had  taken  their 
departure  from  the  field  of  labor  to  the  land  of  rest. 

Numbers  in   the   Church. 

Whites.  Colored,  Total.         Preachers. 

This  year        168,698      42,431      211,129      687 
Last  year         171,448      42,859      214,307      678 

Decrease         2,750  428  3,178  In.    9 

This  unusual  decrease  shows  that  the  effects 
of  the  war,  as  has  been  remarked  above,  had  been  liU- 
friendly  to  the  interests  of  religion. 

18  15.  At  this  time  the  principal  labor  of  the  superin- 
tendency  devolved  on  Bishop  M'Kendree,  the  wisdom 
of  whose  administration  was  generally  appreciated  by 
both  the  ministry  and  membership  ;  for  Bishop  As- 
bury,  though  still  moving  around  among  the  churches, 
was  too  feeble  to  render  much  assistance  in  the  active 
business  of  the  conferences.  He,  however,  met  his 
colleague  at  the  conferences,  fixed  the  stations  of  the 
preachers,  preached  occasionally,  and  for  a  short  season 
at  a  time  took  his  seat  in  the  conferences.  Here  he 
was  uniformly  greeted  with  a  hearty  welcome,  and 
venerated  as  the  patriarch  of  the  American  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

After  recording  the  incidents  of  his  travels  through 

rancy  themselves,  whatever  the  sacrifice  might  be,  and  induce 
as  many  others  as  possible  to  follow  their  example. 

2 


382  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1815. 

the  several  states,  preaching  often,  distributing  Testa- 
ments to  the  poor,  visiting  families  and  praying  with 
them,  as  well  as  soliciting  pecuniary  aid  for  the  poorer 
preachers  by  presenting  to  his  friends  his  "  mite  sub- 
scription," he  gives  the  following  account  of  his  inter 
view  with  Bisljop  M'Kendree  : — 

"  We  had  a  long  and  earnest  talk  about  the  affairs  of 
our  Church,  and  my  future  prospects.  I  told  him  my 
opinion  was,  that  the  western  part  of  the  empire  would  be 
the  glory  of  America  for  the  poor  and  the  pious — that  it 
ought  to  be  marked  out  for  five  conferences,  to  wit,  Ohio, 
Kentucky,  Holston,  Mississippi,  and  Missouri — in  doing 
which,  as  well  as  I  was  able,  I  traced  out  lines  and  bound- 
aries. I  told  my  colleague,  that  having  passed  the  first 
allotted  period,  (seventy  years,)  and  being,  as  he  knew,  out 
of  health,  it  could  not  be  expected  that  I  could  visit  the 
extremities  every  year,  sitting  in  eight,  it  might  be  twelve 
conferences,  and  traveling  six  thousand  miles  in  eight 
months.  If  I  was  able  still  to  keep  up  with  the  conferences, 
I  could  not  be  expected  to  preside  in  more  than  every 
other  one.  x'Vs  to  the  stations,  I  should  never  exhibit  a 
plan  unfinished,  but  still  get  all  the  information  in  my 
power,  so  as  to  enable  me  to  make  it  perfect,  like  the 
painter  who  touches  and  retouches  until  all  parts  of  the 
picture  are  pleasing.  The  plan  I  might  be  laboring  on 
would  always  be  submitted  to  such  eyes  as  ought  to  see  it ; 
and  the  measure  I  meted  to  others  I  should  expect  to 
receive." 

How  fallacious  often  is  hope  !  This  conversation, 
though  it  exhibits  a  mind  ever  intent  on  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  Church,  in  thus  maturing  plans  for  its 
future  prosperity,  was  like  the  flickering  light  of  an 
expiring  lamp,  which,  before  it  is  entirely  extinguish- 
2 


1815.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  383 

ed,  flares  up  suddenly  and  then  goes  out  for  ever. 
Such  indeed  was  the  general  debility  of  Bishop  As- 
bury  that  he  had  to  be  lifted  in  and  out  of  his  carriage, 
and  if  he  visited  the  conference  room  at  all,  it  was 
only  to  astonish  his  friends  with  the  sudden  corrusca- 
tions  of  light  which  beamed  from  a  mind  pent  up  in 
a  body  trembling  under  the  ravages  of  disease  and 
the  infirmities  of  age.  But  he  had  been  so  long  ac- 
customed to  constant  traveling  and  preaching,  that  this 
habitual  exercise  seemed  essential  to  life  and  comfort, 
and  no  doubt  contributed  to  lengthen  his  days,  which 
were  now  nevertheless  speedily  drawing  to  their 
close. 

The  war,  which  had  now  raged  with  various  de- 
grees of  violence  and  success,  for  about  three  years, 
was  near  its  termination.  Though  the  battle  of  New- 
Orleans  was  fought  on  the  8th  of  January,  1815,  and 
several  naval  victories  were  won  upon  the  ocean  after 
that  event,  yet  the  articles  of  peace  were  signed  by 
the  British  and  American  commissioners  at  Ghent  on 
the  24th  of  December,  by  which  an  end  was  soon 
put  to  this  bloody  struggle,  greatly  to  the  joy  of  the 
friends  of  human  happiness  on  both  sides  of  the  At- 
lantic, and  much  more  to  those  along  the  lines  of 
Canada  and  the  United  States,  where  so  much  human 
suffering  had  been  realized. 

But  though  such  places  had  severely  felt  the  delete- 
rious effects  of  this  scourge  of  humanity,  especially  on 
the  interests  of  true  religion,  yet  in  places  not  so  much 
exposed  to  the  ravages  of  war  the  work  of  God  had 
prospered  during  the  past  year.  Since,  however,  the 
commencement  of  hostilities,  there  had  been  a  check 
put  upon  the  extension  of  the  work  among  the  people 

2 


384  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1815. 

on  the  frontiers,  as  well  as  upon  the  advancement  of 
the  settlements  themselves.  The  Indian  tribes  had 
been  generally  enlisted  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  the 
belligerenls,  had  invaded  each  other's  territories,  and 
thus  kept  the  exterior  settlements  in  a  continual  state 
of  fear  and  alarm,  of  excitement  and  irritation — a 
state  of  things  exceedingly  unfriendly  to  religious  en 
joyment  and  effort.  It  will  therefore  be  seen  that, 
after  deducting  for  withdrawings,  expulsions,  and 
.  deaths,  which  is  always  done  in  taking  the  number 
of  Church  members,  the  increase  this  year  was  very 
small,  and  hence  it  may  be  presumed  that  the  spirit 
of  piety  was  rather  low  throughout  our  borders  gene- 
rally. 

Sixty-seven  were  located,  thirteen  were  returned 
supernumerary,  twenty-two  superannuated,  one  expel- 
led, and  four  had  died.  Two  of  the  last,  namely, 
John  M^Claskey  and  Michael  Coate,  had  been  long 
and  favorably  known  to  the  Church,  highly  distin 
guished  for  their  deep  piety,  indefatigable  and  useful 
labors ;  and  in  their  death  they  gave  a  lively  testi- 
mony to  the  power  of  religion  to  sustain  them  in  their 
passage  to  immortality  and  eternal  life.  Though  the 
race  of  the  others,  Lewis  Hohhs  and  William  S. 
Fisher,  was  comparatively  short,  yet  it  was  brilliant, 
and  ended  as  it  began,  in  the  grace  of  God,  and  in 
the  hope  of  an  eternal  reward. 

Numbers  in  the  Church. 

Whites.  Colored.  Total.         Preachers. 

This  year        167,978      43,187      211,165      704 
Last  year        168,698      42,431      211,129      687 

Decrease  720    In.  75  6  36         17 

2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  385 

1816.  Peace  being  restored  to  the  countryj  busi- 
ness began  to  resume  its  usual  channels,  and  the  peo- 
ple to  attend  to  their  concerns  with  their  wonted 
cheerfulness  and  diligence,  and  we  find  this  year  Up- 
per and  Lower  Canada,  which  had  been  insulated  dur- 
ing the  war,  was  included  among  the  districts  of  the 
Genesee  conference,  though  Quebec  was  supplied,  at 
the  request  of  the  people  in  that  place,  by  the  mission 
committee  in  London.  But  though  this  calm  appear- 
ed m  the  civil  atmosphere,  the  effects  of  the  late 
storms  of  war  and  bloodshed  were  still  visible  along 
the  highways  and  fields  in  which  God's  servants  were 
called  to  labor.  The  southwestern  frontiers  were  in 
some  places  disturbed  by  Indian  depredations,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  country  the  exasperations  of  spirit 
which  had  been  excited  by  conflicting  opinions  re- 
specting the  policy  of  the  late  war,  and  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  waged,  were  not  yet  wholly  allayed,  and 
hence  the  spi-rit  of  piety  had  not  yet  recovered  its 
wonted  healthy  tone  and  vigorous  action ;  and  the 
manner  in  which  the  rejoicings  and  thanksgivings  for 
the  return  of  peace  were  held,  in  many  instances, 
served  rather  to  feed  than  to  extinguish  the  flame  of 
political  strife  and  animosity,  as  well  as  to  call  forth 
and  strengthen  the  warlike  propensities  of  the  human 
heart.  Li  some  places,  however,  a  spirit  of  devout 
gratitude  to  the  Author  of  all  good  was  cherished  in 
the  sanctuary,  where  the  people  of  God  prostrated 
themselves  before  His  throne,  and  after  lifting  their 
hearts  to  Him  in  fervent  acknowledgments  of  praise 
and  thanksgiving  for  the  restoration  of  peace  and  its 
attendant  blessings,  were  entertained  from  the  pulpit 
with  a  rehearsal  of  his  loving-kindness  to  the  nation 
Vol.  n.— 17 


386  A  HISTORV   OF  THE  [1816 

and  lo  the  Church.  These  were  seasons  of  refresh- 
ing from  the  presence  of  llie  Lord,  and  tended  to  en- 
large the  soul  with  enhghtened  views  of  the  divine 
character  and  goodness,  to  revive  and  nourish  the 
spirit  of  piety,  and  to  unite  the  feehng  of  true  patriot- 
ism with  a  sense  of  pious  gratitude. 

But,  though  the  superintendents,  as  far  as  they 
were  able,  attended  to  their  duties  in  the  general 
work,  and  the  preachers  watched  over  their  respective 
flocks  with  their  wonted  dihgence  and  zeal,  there  were 
no  special  revivals  of  the  work  of  God,  and  hence  the 
increase  of  numbers  was  small,  notwithstanding  the 
members  in  Canada  were  this  year  included  in  the 
enumeration. 

We  have  already  seen  that  Bishop  Asbury's  de- 
clining health  prevented  him  from  performing  much 
active  service,  and  that  consequently  the  duties  of 
the  superintendency  devolved  chiefly  on  Bishop 
M'Kendree.  He  accordingly  moved  around  among  the 
churches,  attended  the  northern  conferences  alone,  and 
by  his  example  of  diligence,  and  his  advice  in  the 
councils  of  the  Church,  endeavored  to  diff'use  the 
spirit  of  piety  and  active  zeal  throughout  our  borders. 
And  all  things  considered,  we  had  reason  for  thank- 
fulness to  God  that  he  had  not  forsaken  his  Church 
in  the  wilderness. 

Sixty-three  were  located  this  year,  eight  returned 
supernumerary,  thirty-two  superannuated,  two  were  ex- 
pelled, and  one  had  withdrawn. 

The  following  had  exchanged  the  field  of  labor  for 
the  land  of  rest : — 

Learner  Blackman,  who  embraced  religion  in  his 
youth,  and  in  1800  entered  the  traveling  ministry. 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  387 

After  making  full  proof  of  his  ministry  in  various  cir- 
cuits in  the  older  conferences,  in  1805,  at  the  request 
of  the  bishops,  he  followed  in  the  track  of  Tobias 
Gibson  into  the  Mississippi  Territory,  and  was  sta- 
tioned on  the  Natchez  circuit.  In  performing  this 
journey  through  the  wilderness,  in  which  he  was 
compelled  to  encamp  in  the  woods  ten  or  eleven 
nights,  he  was  called  to  endure  hardships  which  the 
Methodist  preachers  of  those  days  felt  more  sensibly 
than  it  is  easy  adequately  to  describe.  But  neither 
the  savages  of  the  wilderness,  the  lonely  deserts 
through  which  they  were  obliged  to  pass  to  reach 
their  destined  post,  nor  the  labors  to  be  performed  or 
privations  to  be  endured,  could  prevent  such  souls  as 
that  which  actuated  Blackman  from  pressing  for- 
ward in  the  path  of  duty. 

On  his  arrival  in  Natchez,  though  he  found  a  few 
who  had  been  brought  to  God  by  the  instrumentality 
of  his  eminent  predecessor,  Tobias  Gibson,  yet  Me- 
thodism was  in  its  infancy,  and  he  had  to  contend 
with  a  variety  of  hinderances  which  were  thrown  in 
his  way  by  the  lukewarmness  of  some,  the  entire  in- 
difference of  others,  and  the  open  hostility  of  not  a  few. 

He  continued  west  of  the  mountains,  laboring  with 
pious  zeal  and  indefatigable  industry,  filling,  for  a 
number  of  years,  the  office  of  presiding  elder,  until 
the  day  of  his  death.  This  mournful  event  heighten- 
ed the  sorrow  of  his  friends  by  the  manner  in  which 
it  occurred.  He  and  his  consort  were  returning  from  a 
visit  on  the  west  side  of  the  Ohio  river,  and  while  re- 
crossing  that  river  in  a  ferry-boat,  their  horses  became 
frightened,  and  leaping  out  threw  him  into  the  river 
and  he  was  drowned. 

2 


388  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

His  eulogy  is  written  in  the  affections  of  the  peo- 
ple who  had  been  blessed  under  his  nninistry.  And 
though  his  death  was  sudden,  and  brought  about  in 
circumstances  which  forbade  his  friends  from  catching 
his  dying  words,  yet  the  purity  of  his  life,  the  faithful- 
ness of  his  preaching,  and  the  diligence  with  which 
he  pursued  his  calling  as  an  overseer  of  the  flock  of 
Christ,  speak  more  emphatically  than  mere  words 
could  do,  in  favor  of  his  preparedness  to  meet  his 
Judge,  in  the  hope  of  acceptance  through  the  blood 
and  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Richmond  Nolley  was  another  of  those  soldiers  of 
Jesus  Christ  who  won  laurels  of  celestial  glory  in 
the  western  wilds.  He  entered  the  ranks  of  the 
itinerancy  in  1808,  and  after  traveling  some  circuits 
in  the  south,  by  which  he  gave  evidence  of  his  will- 
ingness to  "  endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of 
Christ,"  he  went  on  a  mission  to  Tombigbee,  in  the 
territory  of  Alabama.  Here  he  devoted  two  years 
of  hard  labor,  filling  his  appointments  with  fidelity, 
though  often  walking  on  foot  with  his  saddlebags 
upon  his  shoulders,  besides  instructing  the  people, 
black  as  well  as  white,  from  house  to  house. 

Being  in  this  country  at  the  commencement  of  the 
hostilities  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain, 
he  had  to  contend  with  difficulties  that  arose  from  the 
movements  of  hostile  Indians,  which  compelled  the 
people  in  that  new  country  to  screen  themselves  from 
their  fury  in  temporary  forts.  He,  however,  would 
not  relax  his  labors,  but  went  fearlessly  from  fort  to 
fort,  warning  and  instructing  the  people,  often  hazard- 
ing his  life,  and  wearing  out  a  constitution  naturally 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  389 

weak,  for  the  sake  of  communicating  spiritual  benefit 
to  immortal  beings. 

From  this  place  he  was  removed,  in  1814,  to  Atta- 
kapas  circuit,  in  Louisiana.  Here  he  was  exposed 
to  all  the  perils  and  hardships  which  are  incident  to 
such  a  new  country,  with  bad  roads,  deep  waters  to 
cross,  often  scanty  fare,  flies  and  moschetoes  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  together  with  the  intense  heat 
of  the  summer,  and  the  mud  and  mire  of  the  winter 
months.  None  of  these  things,  however,  disheartened 
him.  He  went  forward  with  firmness  and  patience, 
seeking  for  the  "  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel." 

But  his  race  was  short,  and  his  death  sudden  and 
sorrowful  to  his  surviving  friends.  On  the  24th  of 
November,  the  weather  being  wet  and  cold,  after  hav- 
ing passed  the  previous  day  through  a  vast  and  dreary 
swamp,  and  over  the  Mississippi,  he  set  oif  to  visit 
some  distant  appointments.  On  the  evening  of  that 
day  he  lodged  with  a  friendly  family ;  the  next  morn- 
ing he  pushed  forward  in  a  direction  uninhabited  by 
any  white  person,  and  employed  an  Indian  to  assist 
him  in  passing  a  creek,  which  he  was  apprehensive 
would  be  so  swollen  as  to  be  difficult  to  ford.  On 
arriving  here,  his  expectations  were  realized  ;  but  he 
concluded  to  make  the  experiment  to  ford  the  stream. 
Leaving  his  saddle-bags,  valise,  and  some  books  with 
his  Indian  guide,  he  mounted  his  horse  and  attempted 
to  ride  through  the  creek.  The  current  bore  his 
horse  down  below  the  usual  place  of  landing,  so  that 
when  they  arrived  on  the  other  side,  the  bank  was  sa 
precipitous  that  the  horse  could  not  ascend  it,  and  in 
the  struggle  he  and  his  horse  were  separated,  the 
horse  swimming  back  to  the  shore  he  had  left,  and 

2 


390  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816 

brother  NoUey  landing  on  the  opposite  bank.  He  then 
walked  on  with  a  view  to  reach  the  first  house,  which 
was  about  two  miles  distant.  The  wet  and  cold, 
however,  so  prostrated  his  physical  strength  that  he 
was  able  to  proceed  only  about  one  mile,  where  he 
was  found  next  morning  a  lifeless  corpse  !  It  seems, 
from  appearances,  that,  becoming  conscious  of  his 
inability  to  proceed  farther,  he  kneeled  down  and 
commended  his  spirit  to  God ;  and  here  in  the  woods 
he  was  found  with  his  eyes  neatly  closed,  his  left 
hand  on  his  breast,  his  right  hand  fallen  off  a  little, 
while  his  immortal  spirit  had,  beyond  all  doubt, 
ascended  to  its  mansion  above. 

The  name  of  Richmond  Nolley  lives  in  the  recol- 
lection of  the  people  in  Alabama  and  Louisiana,  and 
his  ministerial  and  Christian  virtues  are  embalmed  in 
their  affections.  He  fell  a  martyr  to  his  work  in  the 
eighth  year  of  his  ministry,  and  has  left  behind  him  a 
testimony  of  his  fidelity  in  the  fruit  of  his  sacrifices 
and  labors. 

Zachariah  Witten,  Joel  Arrington^  Edwin  John- 
son,  George  Askin,  Nathan  Lodge,  and  James  Quail, 
had  also  taken  their  departure  to  another  world,  ho- 
nored and  beloved  in  their  life  as  ministers  of  Christ, 
and  lamented  in  their  death  by  those  who  had  been 
benefitted  by  their  labors,  and  by  their  more  intimate 
relations. 

But  a  greater  than  either  had  fallen.  The  death- 
knell  had  sounded  over  the  coffin  of  our  American 
patriarch,  and  assured  us  that  our  Asbury  was  no  more  ! 

And  as  this  was  the  year  in  which  Bishop  Asbury 
closed  his  life  and  labors,  I  shall,  as  seems  most  fit, 
close  the  present  volume  with  a  brief  account  of  the 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  391 

closing  da3^s  of  that  great  and  good  man,  together 
with  some  remarks  on  his  general  character  and  man- 
ner of  life. 

We  have  already  seen  that  disease  was  making 
fearful  inroads  upon  a  constitution  which  had  been  shat- 
tered by  frequent  attacks  of  sickness,  often  induced 
from  exposure  to  wind  and  weather,  to  hardships, 
privations,  constant  labor  and  care,  and  that  he  con- 
sequently exhibited  symptoms  of  approaching  dissolu- 
tion. After  the  interview  with  Bishop  M'Kendree, 
before  mentioned,  he  still  journeyed  on,  attended  by 
his  ever  faithful  companion,  John  Wesley  Bond, 
passing  through  the  state  of  Ohio  to  Kentucky,  where, 
after  preaching  in  Lexington,  he  says  : — 

"  My  soul  is  blest  with  continued  consolation  and  peace 
in  all  my  great  weakness  of  body  and  crowds  of  company. 
I  am  a  debtor  to  the  whole  continent,  but  more  especially 
to  the  north-east  and  south-west ;  it  is  there  I  usually  gain 
health,  and  generally  lose  it  in  the  south  and  centre.  I 
have  visited  the  south  thirty  times  in  thirty-one  years.  I 
wish  to  visit  Mississippi,  but  am  resigned." 

It  would  appear  then  that  even  the  bounds  of  the 
ten  conferences  were  not  a  sufficiently  large  range  to 
fill  his  capacious  desires — he  ivished  still  to  visit  Mis- 
sissippi !  But  here  again  he  found  that  his  wishes 
must  yield  to  the  pressure  of  a  body  tottering  on  the 
confines  of  another  world.  Mississippi  must  be  left 
to  his  sons  in  the  gospel,  while  the  father  is  forced  to 
"  withdraw  his  feet"  even  from  the  ordinary  business 
of  a  conference,  for  on  the  2 1  st  of  this  same  month 
of  October,  after  remarking  that  he  had  preached  to 
the  Tennessee  conference,  and  ordained  the  deacons, 
he  says, — 

2 


392  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

"  My  eyes  fail.  I  will  resign  the  stations  to  Bishop 
M'Kendree.  I  will  take  away  my  feet.  It  is  my  fifty- 
fifth  year  of  ministry,  and  forty-fifth  of  labor  in  America. 
My  mind  enjoys  great  peace  and  divine  consolation.  My 
health  is  better,  which  may  be  in  part  because  of  my  being 
less  deeply  interested  in  the  business  of  the  conference. 
But  whether  health,  life,  or  death,  good  is  the  will  of  the 
Lord.  I  will  trust  him  ;  yea,  I  will  praise  him.  He  is 
the  strength  of  my  heart  and  my  portion  for  ever.  Glory  ! 
glory  !  glory  !"  Fit  language  for  a  veteran  of  the  cross  of 
Christ,  just  ready  to  receive  his  crown. 

In  this  frame  of  mind  he  passed  on  from  place  to 
place,  stretching  across  the  country  from  Tennessee 
into  South  Carolina,  until,  under  date  of  Dec.  2,  he 
says,  "  My  consolations  are  great.  I  live  in  God 
from  moment  to  moment ;"  and  then  Dec.  7,  which  is 
the  last  entry  in  his  journal,  and  probably  the  last  line 
he  ever  wrote,  he  says, — 

"  We  met  a  storm  and  stopped  at  William  Baker's, 
Granby." 

It  appears,  however,  from  the  published  notice  of 
his  death,  that  he  persevered  in  his  customary  way,  in 
his  close  carriage,  to  journey  on  through  the  country, 
until  March  24,  1816,  when  he  came  to  Richmond, 
Virginia,  where  he  preached  his  last  sermon.  His 
text  was  Rom.  ix,  28,  "  For  he  will  finish  his  work, 
and  cut  it  short  in  righteousness  :  because  a  short 
work  will  the  Lord  make  upon  the  earth."  This 
closed  his  pulpit  work. 

So  feeble  was  he  that  his  friends   endeavored   to 

dissuade  him  from  making  this  effort.      He,  however, 

resisted  their  importunities  by  remarking  that  he  must 

once  more  deliver  his  testimony  in  that  place.    They 

2 


1816.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  393 

therefore  assisted  him  from  his  carriage — for  he  was 
unable  either  to  walk  or  stand — to  the  pulpit,  and 
seated  him  on  a  table  which  had  been  prepared  for 
that  purpose  :  and  though  his  debihty  was  such  that 
he  was  obliged  to  make  frequent  pauses  in  the  course 
of  his  sermon,  yet  the  audience  were  much  affected 
by  the  manner  in  which  he  delivered  his  last  solemn 
message,  but  much  more  with  his  appearance,  venera- 
ble with  age,  standing  on  the  borders  of  eternity,  pale 
and  tremulous  with  debility,  while  the  deep  intonations 
of  his  commanding  voice,  rising  with  the  grandeur  of 
his  subject,  gave  a  solemnity  to  the  whole  scene  of  a 
most  impressive  character. 

Having  thus  delivered  his  last  testimony  for  God, 
he  was  assisted  from  the  sanctuary  to  his  carriage,  in 
which  he  returned  to  his  lodgings. 

On  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday,  he  moved  on 
his  way,  and  finally  came  to  the  house  of  his  old 
friend,  Mr.  George  Arnold,  in  Spottsylvania,  Virginia. 
Here  the  unfavorable  state  of  the  weather  and  his  in- 
creasing debility  obliged  him  to  stop.  He  had,  indeed, 
flattered  himself  with  living  to  meet  the  General  Con- 
ference which  was  to  assemble  in  Baltimore  on  the 
second  day  of  the  ensuing  May  ;  but  he  had  approach- 
ed the  termination  of  his  journeyings  in  this  world, 
and  he  humbly  bowed  to  the  decree  of  his  heavenly 
Father  in  this  as  well  as  in  all  other  things. 

Here  he  passed  a  very  restless  night.  In  the  morn- 
ing, his  friends,  perceiving  his  great  distress  and  in- 
creasing weakness,  urged  the  propriety  of  calling  in 
the  aid  of  a  physician.  He  gave  them  to  understand 
that  it  would  be  of  no  use,  saying,  that  before  the 
physician  could  come  to  him  his  breath  would  be 
17*  2 


594  A  HISTORY   OF   THE  [1816. 

gone,  and  the  doctor  would  only  pronounce  him  dead. 
Being  then  asked  if  he  had  any  thing  to  comnauni- 
cale,  he  replied,  that  as  he  had  fully  expressed  his 
mind  to  Bishop  M'Kendree  in  relation  to  the  Church, 
he  had  nothing  more  to  add. 

About  eleven  o'clock  on  Sabbath  morning  he  in 
quired  if  it  were  not  time  for  meeting ;  but  soon  recol- 
lecting himself,  he  requested  the  family  to  be  called 
together.  This  being  done,  brother  Bond  sung,  prayed, 
and  expounded  the  twenty-first  chapter  of  the  Apoca- 
lypse, during  which  the  bishop  appeared  calm  and 
much  engaged  in  devotion.  After  these  exercises 
were  closed,  they  offered  him  a  little  barley  water, 
but  such  was  his  weakness  that  he  could  not  swallow 
it,  and  his  power  of  utterance  began  to  fail.  On  ob- 
serving the  anxiety  of  his  beloved  companion,  who 
had  attended  him  with  such  commendable  assiduity 
for  so  long  a  time,  he  raised  his  dying  hand,  and  at 
the  same  time  looked  at  him  joyfully.  On  being  ask- 
ed by  brother  Bond  if  he  felt  the  Lord  Jesus  precious, 
exerting  all  his  remaining  strength  in  token  of  a  com- 
plete victory,  he  raised  both  his  hands. 

In  a  few  minutes  after  this,  as  he  sat  on  his 
chair  with  his  head  reclining  upon  the  hand  of  brother 
Bond,  without  a  struggle,  and  with  great  composure, 
he  breathed  his  last  on  Sabbath  the  31st  of  March, 
1816,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age. 

His  remains  were  deposited  in  Spottsylvania,  in  the 
family  burying  ground  of  Mr.  Arnold,  at  whose  house 
he  died.  But  on  the  assembling  of  the  General  Con- 
ference in  Baltimore,  by  its  order,  and  at  the  request 
of  the  brethren  in  that  city,  the  mortal  remains  of 
Bishop  Asbury  were  removed  to  Baltimore,  and  depo- 
9 


1816.]  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  395 

sited  under  the  recess  of  the  pulpit  of  the  Eutaw- 
street  church,  in  a  vault  which  had  been  prepared  for 
that  purpose. 

The  corpse  was  followed  from  the  conference 
room  in  Light-street,  by  the  members  of  the  General 
Conference,  several  clergymen  of  other  denominations, 
and  by  a  vast  concourse  of  the  citizens  of  Baltimore, 
being  preceded  by  Bishop  M'Kendree  as  the  officiat- 
ing minister,  attended  by  Mr.  Black,  a  representative 
from  the  British  to  the  American  conference,  to  the 
Eutaw-street  church,  where  a  funeral  oration  was  de- 
livered by  Bishop  M'Kendree.  After  this  the  body 
of  this  great  man  of  God  was  committed  to  its  tomb, 
to  await  the  hour  when  "  all  that  are  in  their  graves 
shall  come  forth,  they  that  have  done  good  to  the 
resurrection  of  hfe,  and  they  that  have  done  evil  to 
the  resurrection  of  damnation." 

The  following  inscription  reminds  the  visiter   to 
this  sacred  spot  of  the  man   to  whose  memory  the 
polished  marble  was  erected : — 
SACRED 

TO    THE   MEMORY   OF 

THE  REVEREND  FRANCIS  ASBURY, 

bishop  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


He  was  born  in  England,  August  20th,  1745 ; 

Entered  the  ministry  at  the  age  of  17 ; 

Came  a  missionary  to  America,  1771  ; 

Was  ordained  Bishop  in  this  city,  December  27th,  1784 ; 

Annually  visited  the  conferences  in  the  United  States ; 

With  much  zeal  continued  to  "  preach  the  word," 

FOR    MORE  THAN  HALF  A  CENTURY. 

And 

literally  ended  his  labors  with  his  life, 

near  Fredericksburg,  Virginia^ 


996  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  fl814, 

in  the  full  triumphs  of  faitli,  on  the  Slst  of  March,  1816. 

Aged  70  years,  7  months,  and  11  days. 

His  remains  were  deposited  in  this  vault,  May  10th,  1816, 

by  the  General  Conference  then  sitting  in  this  city. 

His  journals  will  exhibit  to  posterity 

his  labors,  his  difficulties,  his  sufferings, 

his  patience,  his  perseverance,  his  love  to  God  and  man. 

A  number  of  funeral  sermons  were  preached  in 
different  places  for  our  departed  superintendent,  some 
of  which  were  afterward  pubhshed  ;  and  the  Baltimore 
conference  engaged  a  gentleman  of  competent  talents 
to  write  his  life,  which,  however,  was  never  completed  ; 
and  after  waiting  until  1824  for  its  appearance  the 
General  Conference  selected  the  Rev.  William  Beau- 
champ  to  complete  the  task,  but  he  was  called  home 
before  he  had  time  to  enter  upon  his  work  ;  and  thus 
a  life  of  Bishop  Asbury  has  never  been  furnished  the 
world.  This  defect  I  have  endeavored,  so  far  as  my 
general  plan  would  admit,  to  supply,  by  giving  some 
of  the  most  important  items  in  his  experience,  travels, 
and  labors,  and  shall  conclude  by  a  few  general 
remarks  on  some  prominent  features  of  his  character. 
But  even  these  must  necessarily  be  imperfect,  not 
only  from  my  want  of  ability  to  do  justice  to  a 
character  so  exalted,  seen  through  such  a  variety  of 
mediums,  and  presenting  so  many  varying  points,  but 
also  for  want  of  room  to  say  all  that  truth  and  justice 
would  seem  to   require. 

1.  The  first  thing  we  notice  is  the  depth  of 
his  experience  as  a  Christian.  This  infused  a  new 
principle  of  action,  constituted  the  purity  of  his  mo- 
tives, and  sanctified  all  his  conduct.  This  experience 
of  divine  grace  penetrates  into  the  depths  of  the  soul, 
and  brings  up,  having  changed  the  heart  and  sancti 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  397 

fied  the  affections,  new  desires,  excites  new  emotions, 
and  gives  new  views  of  God,  of  man,  of  human  des- 
tiny, and  the  end  of  all  human  actions. 

Let  those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  estimate 
human  conduct  from  motives  of  self-interest,  ambition, 
or  worldly  policy,  recollect  that  when  the  heart  is  re- 
newed by  grace,  there  springs  up  a  new  motive  of 
action,  and  new  hopes  of  reward,  which  exalt  the  in- 
dividual as  far  above  the  mere  man  of  the  world  as 
the  heavens  are  high  above  the  earth.  That  young 
Asbury  was  blessed  with  this  new  creation,  by  that 
Holy  Spirit  which  ever  after  wrought  mightily  in  him 
to  the  subduing  of  all  unholy  propensities,  must  be 
manifest  to  all  who  have  consulted  the  preceding 
pages. 

2.  His  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  was  evi- 
dently of  a  divine  character.  Born  in  humble  life, 
destined  by  his  parents  and  his  own  choice  for  a  me- 
chanical pursuit,  neither  he  nor  they  had  any  thought 
of  his  becoming  a  minister  of  the  sanctuary,  until  it 
was  made  manifest  to  him  and  to  others  competent  to 
judge,  that  a  dispensation  of  the  gospel  was  committed 
to  him.  He  was  then  not  disobedient  to  the  heavenly 
vision,  but  entered  upon  his  work  with  all  his  soul  and 
strength,  and  continued  with  unabated  ardor  and  dili- 
gence until  he  ceased  "at  once  to  work  and  live." 

3.  His  talents  as  a  preacher  must  be  estimated  in 
connection  with  those  other  duties  which  devolved 
upon  him  as  the  superintendent  of  the  Church.  It  is 
said  by  those  who  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  him 
in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  before  time  and  care  had 
wrinkled  his  forehead,  that  he  was  deep  and  systemati- 
cal in  his  discourses,  ably  and  "  rightly  dividing  the 

2 


398  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

word  of  truth,"  fluent  and  powerful  in  his  delivery,  as 
well  as  remarkably  pointed  in  his  appeals  to  the  con- 
sciences of  his  hearers.  His  attitude  in  the  pulpit 
was  graceful,  dignified,  and  solemn;  his  voice  full  and 
commanding;  his  enunciation  clear  and  distinct;  and 
sometimes  a  sudden  burst  of  eloquence  would  break 
forth  in  a  manner  which  spoke  a  soul  full  of  God,  and 
like  a  mountain  torrent  swept  all  before  it. 

I  remember  an  instance  of  this  in  the  city  of  Bal- 
timore in  1808,  while  he  was  preaching  on  a  Sab- 
bath morning  in  the  Eutaw-street  church,  in  the 
presence  of  many  members  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  among  others,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Otterbein  sat 
by  his  side  in  the  pulpit.  The  bishop  was  discours- 
ing upon  the  duty  of  parents  to  their  children.  Having 
uttered  a  severe  reproof  to  those  who  neglect  this  duty 
and  indulge  their  children  in  the  frivolities  of  the 
world,  he  suddenly  paused,  and  then  said,  "  But  you 
will  say  this  is  hard.  Alas,"  he  added — letting  his 
voice  which  had  been  raised  into  that  high  command- 
ing tone  which  gave  such  a  majesty  to  what  he  utter- 
ed, suddenly  fall  to  a  low  and  soft  key, — "  It  is  harder 
to  be  damned  !"  These  words,  dropping  from  his  lips 
in  a  manner  which  indicated  the  deep  sensations  of 
his  heart,  fell  upon  the  audience,  now  wrought  up  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  intensity  by  what  had  preceded 
them,  like  the  sudden  bursting  of  a  cloud  upon  the 
mown  grass,  and  they  were  in  a  moment  melted  into 
tears — sobs  and  groans  were  heard  all  over  the  house. 
The  venerable  Otterbein,  noble  and  dignified  in  his 
appearance,  was  turned  into  a  little  child — the  tears 
furrowing  his  cheeks — bespeaking  the  deep  feelings 
of  his  heart. 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  399 

But  though  Bishop  Asbury  was  thus  able  and  sys- 
tematic in  his  preaching  in  the  earlier  days  of  his 
ministry,  as  other  duties  accumulated,  the  cares  of 
the  superintendency  multiplied,  and  his  travels  neces- 
sarily enlarged,  it  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  give 
that  attention  to  reading  and  study  which  is  essential 
for  a  lull  development  and  vigorous  exercise  of  the 
mental  powers.  Hence  in  his  latter  days  his  man- 
ner of  preaching  changed — he  was  often  quite  un- 
methodical in  his  arrangement — sometimes  abruptly 
jumping,  if  I  may  so  express  it,  from  one  subject  to 
another,  intermingling  anecdotes  of  an  instructive 
character,  and  suddenly  breaking  forth  in  most  tre- 
mendous rebukes  of  some  prevalent  vice,  and  con- 
cluding with  an  admonition  full  of  point  and  pathos. 
Yet  he  always  exhibited  a  mind  deep  and  solemn, 
ever  intent  upon  securing  the  salvation  of  his  own 
soul  and  the  souls  of  those  who  heard  him. 

4.  For  diligence  in  his  calling,  he  was  surpassed 
by  no  one,  unless  we  may  except  the  ever  active 
"Wesley  ;  and  for  suffering  privations  and  enduring 
hardships,  he  even  far  exceeded  his  prototype  ;  inas- 
much as  the  form.er  was  not  called,  in  the  discharge 
of  his  important  duties,  to  such  a  rugged  and  exten- 
sive field  of  labor  as  that  into  which  Bishop  Asbury 
was  thrust. 

During  the  forty-five  years  of  his  ministry  in  Ame- 
rica, allowing  that  he  preached  on  an  average  one 
sermon  a  day — and  he  often  preached  three  times 
on  the  Sabbath — he  delivered  not  less  than  sixteen 
thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  sermons,  be- 
sides his  lectures  to  the  societies,  and  meeting  classes  ; 
allowing  him  six  thousand  miles  a  year,  which,  it  is 

2 


400  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  [1816 

believed  he  generally  exceeded,  he  must  h^ve  traveled 
during  the  same  time  about  two  hundred  and  seventy 
thousand  miles,  much  of  it  on  the  very  worst  of 
roads  ;  from  the  lime  of  the  organization  of  the 
Church  in  1784,  to  the  period  of  his  death,  thirty- 
two  years,  allowing  an  average  of  seven  conferences 
a  year,  he  sat  in  no  less  than  two  hundred  and  twen- 
ty four  annual  conferences,  and  in  their  infancy  their 
entire  business  devolved  chiefly  on  himself;  and  he 
probably  consecrated,  including  traveling  and  local 
preachers,  more  than  four  thousand  persons  to  the 
sacred  office  !  Here,  then,  is  a  missionary  bishop 
worthy  of  the  name,  whose  example  may  be  held  up 
for  the  imitation  of  all  who  engage  in  this  sacred  work. 
We  have  spoken  of  his  travels.  He  was  no  idle 
traveler,  nor  did  he  ever  journey  for  pleasure.  As 
before  noticed,  to  aid  him  in  scattering  the  good  seed 
of  the  kingdom,  he  distributed  religious  tracts,  Bibles, 
and  Testaments  ;  and  "  into  whatsoever  house  he  en- 
tered," he  not  only  said,  "  Peace  be  to  this  house," 
but  he  addressed  himself  to  its  inmates  personally  on 
the  subject  of  religion,  and  let  their  character  be 
whatever  it  might,  unless  absolutely  prohibited,  he 
never  left  them  without  prayer.  In  this  exercise  he 
was  indeed  mighty.  As  he  frequently  remarked  that 
"  he  lived  in  God  from  moment  to  moment,"  so  his 
prayers  indicated  the  most  intimate  communion  with 
Him  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  Though  great 
in  the  pulpit,  and  strong  in  the  government  which  he 
exercised,  yet  prayer  seemed  to  be  his  forte,  the  dc- 
lifrhtful  element  of  his  soul.  Thoucrh  never  boisterous 
in  his  manner,  but  solemn  and  devout,  yet  his  prayers 
were  comprehensive,  frequent,  and  fervent,  and  some- 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  401 

limes  attended  with  such  an  unction  fronn  the  holy 
one,  as  made  it  evident  that  he  was  in  truth  in  audi- 
ence with  the  Deity. 

5.  With  all  his  other  excellences,  perhaps  Bishop 
Asbury  never  appeared  so  great  as  in  the  tact  of 
governing  the  conferences.  He  had  deeply  studied 
the  character  of  man,  and  well  understood  the  various 
springs  of  human  action.  But  that  which  gave  him 
such  a  commanding  influence  over  others,  was  the 
confidence  which  he  had  inspired  in  his  wisdom  and 
integrity.  The  manner  in  which  he  had  deported 
himself  from  the  time  he  first  landed  on  our  shores, 
convinced  all  with  whom  he  had  intercourse  that  he 
"  sought  not  his  own  but  them,"  and  that  the  high 
ends  he  aimed  to  accomplish,  were  the  present  and 
future  salvation  of  immortal  beings.  His  deadness 
to  the  world,  to  human  applause,  to  riches  and  world- 
ly honors,  and  his  deep  devotion  to  God,  made  an 
impression  upon  all  who  bore  witness  to  his  spirit 
and  conduct,  that  he  was  actuated  by  the  purest  and 
most  elevated  motives  and  views.  This  pervading 
impression  wrought  that  confidence  in  the  uprightness 
of  his  intentions  and  wisdom  of  his  plans,  which  gave 
him  such  a  control  over  both  preachers  and  people  as 
enabled  him  to  discharge  the  high  trusts  confided  to 
him,  with  so  much  facility  and  to  such  general  satis- 
faction. Hence  the  apparent  ease  with  which  he 
managed  the  complicated  machinery  of  Methodism, 
guided  the  councils  of  the  conferences,  fixed  the  sta- 
tions of  the  preachers,  and  otherwise  exercised  his 
authority  for  the  general  good  of  the  entire  body. 

It  is  true,  he  did  not  escape  censure.     "  The  arch- 
ers shot  at  him  ;"  but  "  his  bow  abode  in  strength." 

2 


402  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

That  a  man  occupying  such  an  elevated  station,  and 
exerting  such  an  extensive  influence  as  he  did,  should 
wholly  escape  censure,  is  more  than  could  be  expect- 
ed, constituted  as  human  society  is.  But  these  cen- 
sures generally  fell  harmless  at  his  feet.  Armed  as 
he  was  "  with  the  whole  armor  of  God,"  he  repelled 
-"  all  the  fiery  darts"  of  his  adversaries,  and  stood  firm 
in  the  defence  of  the  cause  he  had  espoused,  and  in  a 
holy  consciousness  of  an  upright  mind  and  a  blame 
less  conduct. 

It  has  indeed  been  objected  to  him  that  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  that  attribute  of  power  with  which  he  was 
invested,  he  sometimes  manifested  a  sternness  border- 
ing upon  a  hardheartedness  which  cannot  be  justified. 
Not  knowing  the  sympathies  of  a  husband  and  a  fa- 
ther from  actual  experience,"^  and  accustomed  as  he 

*  It  is  generally  known,  I  believe,  that  Bishop  Asbury  was 
never  married.  And  as  it  will  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  his 
thoughts  on  this  subject,  together  with  the  reasons  for  his  ce- 
libacy, I  will  here  insert  them,  as  I  find  them  in  his  Journal, 
vol.  iii,  p.  128. 

"  If  I  should  die  in  celibacy,  which  I  think  quite  probable,  I 
give  the  following  reasons  for  what  can  scarcely  be  called  my 
choice.  I  was  called  in  my  fourteenth  year ;  I  began  my  pub- 
lic exercises  between  sixteen  and  seventeen ;  at  twenty-one  I 
traveled  ;  at  twenty-six  I  came  to  America ;  thus  far  I  had 
reasons  enough  for  a  single  life.  It  had  been  my  intention  of 
returning  to  Europe  at  thirty  years  of  age ;  but  the  war  con- 
tinued, and  it  was  ten  years  before  we  had  a  settled,  last- 
ing peace  :  this  was  no  time  to  marry  or  be  given  in  marriage. 
At  forty-nine  I  was  ordained  superintendent  Ijishop  in  America. 
Among  the  duties  imposed  upon  me  by  my  office  was  that  of 
traveling  extensively,  and  I  could  hardly  expect  to  find  a  wo- 
man with  grace  enough  to  enable  her  to  live  but  one  week  out 
of  the  fifty-two  with  her  husband  :  besides,  what  right  has  any 
man  to  take  advantage  of  the  affections  of  a  woman,  make  her 
2 


1816.1  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  403 

was  to  make  continual  sacrifices  himself  in  the 
cause  of  his  Master,  that  he  did  not  always  make 
sufficient  allowance  for  human  frailties,  and  for  the 
unavoidable  ills  which  accompany  a  married  tra- 
veling preacher,  may  be  admitted  without  any  im- 
peachment of  either  his  wisdom,  goodness,  or  the 
tenderness  of  his  nature. 

But  those  who  think  Bishop  Asbury  was  unfeeling, 
have  very  much  misunderstood  his  character.  Though 
he  suitably  detested  that  squeamishness  of  nature  and 
whining  disposition  which  leads  some  men  always  to 
complain  of  their  hard  lot,  yet  no  man  was  usually 
more  alive  to  the  happiness  of  others,  or  more  assidu 
ously  endeavored  to  accommodate  the  feelings  and 
meet  the  wishes  of  all,  so  far  as  a  good  conscience 
and  the  dictates  of  a  sound  judgment  would  allow. 
I  have  heard  him  in  open  conference  request  the 
preachers  to  give  him  a  representation  of  their  cases 
before  making  out  their  stations,  that  he  might  under- 
stand their  peculiar  circumstances,  and  act  accord- 
ingly— and  also,  even  after  the  conference  adjourned, 
have  I  known  him  to  make  alterations  to  accommo- 
date a  brother  who  thought  himself  aggrieved,  or  to 
meet  a  case  not  before  know^n.  In  these  respects  he 
felt  and  acted  as  a  father  among  his  family. 

his  wife,  and  by  a  voluntary  absence  subvert  the  whole  order 
and  economy  of  the  marriage  state,  by  separating  those  whom 
neither  God,  nature,  nor  the  requirements  of  civil  society  per- 
mit long  to  be  put  asunder :  it  is  neither  just  nor  generous.  I 
may  add  to  this  that  I  had  little  money,  and  with  this  little  ad- 
ministered to  the  necessities  of  a  beloved  mother  until  I  was 
fifty-seven  :  if  I  have  done  wrong,  I  hope  God  and  the  sex 
will  forgive  me  :  it  is  my  duty  now  to  bestow  the  pittance  I  may 
have  to  spare  upon  the  widows  and  fatherless  girls,  and  poor 
married  men." 
2 


404  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

It  is  true  that  in  some  instances,  when  oppressed 
with  a  multiplicity  of  cares,  and  assailed-  with  nu- 
merous opposing  claims,  such  as  are  known  only  to 
those  who  have  had  some  experience  in  disposing  of 
the  stations  of  so  many  men,  and  perhaps  thwarted  in 
his  good  intentions  by  restless  and  fastidious  spirits, 
who  consulted  their  own  interests  more  than  the  ge- 
neral good,  he  manifested  some  impatience  and  appear- 
ed unyielding  in  the  decisions  of  his  own  mind.  But 
if,  at  any  time,  he  betrayed  this  weakness  of  human 
nature,  like  the  well-tempered  sword  which,  while  it 
bends  under  the  hand  of  him  who  tries  its  metal, 
quickly  resumes  its  natural  position,  he  soon  regained 
his  equanimity  of  mind,  and  sought  the  earliest  op- 
portunity to  soothe  the  spirit  of  him  he  might  have 
wounded."^      And  whatever  errors  he  may  have  com- 

*As  an  evidence  of  this  disposition  of  mind,  so  amiable  in 
itself,  I  give  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  which  I  have  in 
my  possession,  dated  in  New-York,  May  7,  1812.  It  seems 
the  bishop  had  before  written  to  the  person  to  whom  this  let- 
ter was  directed,  in  which  the  latter  thought  the  bishop  in  some 
indirect  way,  had  accused  him  of  a  species  of  duplicity,  and  the 
preacher  had  requested  an  explanation.  To  this  the  bishop 
answers  in  the  following  manner  : — 

"  My  Dear  Brother  and  Son  : — It  is  impossible  for  me  to 
enter  into  explanations.  Unhappily  suspicions  have  taken 
place,  I  said,  I  think,  among  us,  including  myself.  I  confess 
I  had  better  not  have  said  any  thing.  I  did  not  mean  a  charge 
against  you  nor  any  innocent  person.  I  am  sorry  I  am  not 
more  prudent;  but  when  I  am  called  upon  so  often  to  speak 
and  write,  I  am  not  sufficiently  on  my  guard.  I  hope  you  will 
bear  with  me.  I  am  persuaded  of  your  uprightness.  Brother 
*  *  ♦  *  j^g^g  spoken  in  the  highest  terms  of  you  to  me,  in  word 
and  letter.  You  will  pardon  me,  and  pray  that  I  may  say,  i*", 
and  preach,  and  write  better. 

"  I  remain  thine  in  Jesus, 
o  "  Francis  Asbury." 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  40o 

mitted  of  this  sort — and  who  is  exempt  from  errors  ? — ■ 
it  was  manifest  to  all  that  he  aimed  at  the  right,  and  per- 
haps oftener  hit  it  than  those  who  attempted  to  correct 
him,  or  who  complained  of  his  defective  administration. 
Allowing  the  truth  of  what  he  says  in  one  place,  "  the 
measm-e  he  meted  to  others  he  expected  to  receive," 
he  must  have  acted  under  the  influence  of  the  golden 
rule  in  meting  to  others  their  portion  of  ministerial 
labor ;  and  his  constant  example  refuted  all  the  calum- 
nies of  those  who  accused  him  of  laying  burdens 
upon  others  which  he  himself  was  unwilling  to  bear. 
6.  His  charity  knew  no  bounds  but  his  ability. 
If  a  "  bishop  must  be  given  to  hospitality,"  and  that 
he  may  be  the  more  hospitable,  "  be  temperate  in  all 
things,"  then  did  Bishop  Asbury  exhibit  this  excellent 
trait  of  the  episcopal  character.  He  literally  begged 
from  door  to  door  to  collect  money  to  supply  the 
wants  of  poor  preachers,  and  so  to  aid  them  that  the 

I  need  hardly  say  that  this  letter  melted  the  heart  of  the 
young  preacher  into  tenderness,  entirely  removed  his  apprehen- 
sions, and  gave  him  a  more  exalted  opinion  of  his  venerable 
bishop  than  he  ever  had  before,  and  indeed  made  him  feel 
ashamed  of  himself  for  having  laid  the  bishop  under  an  obliga- 
tion to  make  such  a  concession. 

Many  such  instances  of  ingenuous  acknowledgment,  in  the 
same  conciliatory  strain,  might  be  mentioned,  greatly  to  the 
credit  of  his  head  and  heart.  As  he  was  conscious  that  he  was 
too  fallible  not  to  err,  so  he  was  too  wise  and  good  to  persist  in 
an  error  when  convinced  he  had  committed  one  ;  a  virtue  of 
rare  occurrence  among  those  who  wilfully  go  astray,  because 
the  same  perverse  disposition  which  impels  them  to  the  one 
prevents  them  from  the  performance  of  the  other.  Sincere 
and  honest  himself,  whatever  errors  he  may  have  committed, 
they  vi'ere  of  a  venial  character,  and  were  therefore  atoned  for 
with  the  same  frankness  and  readiness  with  which  an  honest 
mind  would  forgive  and  forget  them. 
2 


406  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

"  poor  might  have  ihc  gospel  preached  to  them." 
How  often,  when  cases  of  distress  were  revealed  in 
an  annual  conference,  would  he  arise  from  his  chair, 
seize  his  broad-brimmed  hat,  and,  with  a  pleasant 
smile  upon  his  countenance,  first  drop  in  a  piece  of 
money  himself,  and  then  hand  it  round  to  the  others, 
making  all,  by  the  humorous  manner  in  which  he  did 
it,  feel  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  contributing,  though 
it  might  be  nearly  their  last  shilling,  for  such  an  object! 
Thus,  by  his  example,  he  provoked  others  to  liberality. 

I  believe,  notwithstanding  the  change  of  the  times, 
he  never  allowed  himself  to  take  over  sixty-four  dol- 
lars annually,  and  his  traveling  expenses  ;  and  though 
through  the  kindness  of  some  friends  who  had  be- 
queathed it  to  him,  he  was  worth,  when  he  died,  be- 
sides his  traveling  apparatus,  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, yet  he  touched  it  not,  but  left  it  to  the  Book 
Concern,  merely  taxing  it  with  the  gift  of  a  Bible  to 
each  of  his  nominal  children,  and  an  annuity  to  a  de- 
pendent widow  of  a  Methodist  preacher. 

7.  He  was  not  only  "  temperate  in  all  things,"  but 
he  seemed  to  hold  in  utter  abhorrence  all  approaches 
to  external  pomp,  and  the  trappings  of  worldly  glory. 
The  same  broad-brimmed,  low-crowned  hat,  which 
was  in  vogue  when  he  entered  the  ministry,  his  entire 
costume  corresponding  with  it  in  plainness  and  cheap- 
ness, he  wore  until  the  day  of  his  death.  And  though 
the  General  Conference  of  1812  passed  a  resolution 
requesting  him  to  sit  for  his  likeness  to  be  drawn  by 
a  portrait  painter  of  Philadelphia,  yet  on  the  adjourn- 
ment of  conference,  he  fled  so  precipitately  from  the 
city,  that  the  secretary  found  it  necessary  to  write  a 
\etter  of  apology  to  the  gentleman  concerned,  stating 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  407 

the  reluctance  of  the  bishop  to  have  his  portrait  taken. 
And  it  was  with  no  small  difficulty  that  he  was  finally 
prevailed  upon  by  his  friends  to  gratify  them  with 
this  boon.  He,  however,  at  last  submitted  to  their 
importunity. 

The  gaudy  tinsels  of  fashion,  the  feastings  of  the 
rich  and  luxurious,  the  struttings  of  upstart  young 
men  who  strove  to  ape  the  giddy  and  the  gay,  drew 
from  him  the  most  severe  and  very  often  most  morti- 
fying reproofs.  But  his  own  example  was  a  justifi- 
cation for  his  severity  in  this  respect.  Yet  he  was 
always  neat  in  his  personal  appearance,  being  as  far 
removed  from  the  neghgence  of  the  sloven,  as  he  was 
from  the  fashionable  airs  of  the  supercilious  fop. 

8.  In  this  plain  dress,  with  a  mind  richly  stored 
with  knowledge  and  a  heart  seasoned  with  grace, 
Bishop  Asbury  seemed  a  fit  representative  of  a  primi- 
tive evangelist,  wearing  not  the  tinselled  mitre  and 
flowing  robes  which  decorate  the  persons  of  some 
modern  bishops,  but  the  grave  attire  which  became 
an  apostle,  with  his  head  silvered  over  with  locks 
which  had  grown  gray  in  a  long  and  laborious  ser- 
vice of  his  divine  Master.  Having  a  slender  consti- 
tution, abstemious  in  his  habits  and  living,  suffering 
often  from  disease,  and  constantly  exposed  to  wind 
and  weather,  burdened  also  with  "  the  care  of  all  the 
churches,"  there  was  rather  a  sombre  cast  upon  his 
countenance,  and  at  times  somewhat  of  a  forbidding 
aspect  in  an  eye  naturally  bright  and  piercing. 

Yet  Bishop  Asbury  was  not  generally  melancholy. 
Though  at  times  subject  to  depression  of  spirits,  and 
to  temporary  gloom,  yet  generally  he  was  of  a  lively 
and  cheerful  disposition  •,  sometimes,  in  conversation 

2 


408  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816 

With  his  friends,  humorous  and  playful,  yet  always 
directing  his  anecdotes,  of  which  he  had  a  fund,  to 
some  good  end,  to  render  vice  the  more  odious  or 
virtue  the  more  lovely. 

9.  In  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  in  consecrating 
men  to  the  office  of  deacons,  elders,  or  bishops,  he  was 
remarkably  solemn,  dignified,  and  impressive.  Who  that 
has  ever  heard  him  say,  in  that  solemn  and  commanding 
tone  of  voice  which  was  to  him  natural  and  unaffect- 
ed, "  Take  thou  authority  to  preach  the  word  of  God, 
and  to  administer  the  holy  sacraments  in  the  congrega- 
tion," has  not  felt  a  sensation  of  awe  come  over  his 
mind,  from  the  impressive  and  solemn  manner  in 
which  the  words  were  pronounced ! 

In  reading  the  several  parts  of  the  consecration 
services,  he  would  sometimes,  from  the  overflowings 
of  a  full  heart,  break  forth  in  an  extemporaneous  effu- 
sion, in  language  of  deep  affection,  admonition,  or  in- 
struction, in  a  manner  which  indicated  the  lively  inte- 
rest which  he  felt  in  the  welfare  of  those  to  whom  he 
addressed  himself.  But  these  extemporaneous  ad- 
dresses were  always  short,  pithy,  and  directly  to  the 
point ;  for  Bishop  Asbury  never  wearied  an  audi- 
ence with  a  dull  prosing  harangue  on  common-place 
topics,  as  if  previously  prepared  for  the  nonce,  and 
much  less  on  occasions  when  an  attempt  to  mend  is 
only  to  mar  the  beautifully  appropriate  services,  as 
laid  down  in  the  examination  of  candidates,  and  in 
the  ordinal  of  the  book.  And  the  manner  in  which 
he  propounded  those  pointed  questions,  plain  and  in- 
telligible in  themselves,  made  them  sufficiently  im- 
pressive without  the  aid  of  a  lengthened  comment, 
which    more    frequently   weakens    than    strengthens 


1816J  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  409 

the  sense;  and  the  holy  breathing  of  a  devout  soul 
which  accompanied  the  devotional  parts  of  the  ordina- 
tion services,  which  was  so  apparent  when  performed 
by  Bishop  Asbury,  superceded  the  necessity  of  any 
extemporaneous  effusions,  especially  in  language  less 
appropriate.  This  he  knew  perfectly  well,  and  acted 
accordingly. 

Yet,  sometimes,  when  he  arose  from  his  knees, 
and  commenced  reading,  he  would  occasionally  throw 
in  sentences,  which  for  their  point  and  appropriateness, 
would  fall  upon  the  ear  with  a  force  and  emphasis 
that  could  hardly  be  resisted ;  and  they  were  the 
more  valuable  because  they  seemed  to  come  unpre- 
meditatedly,  springing  up  from  a  heart  overflowing  with 
the  holiest  and  therefore  the  kindliest  feeling. 

I  remember  on  one  occasion,  when  laying  his 
hands  upon  a  young  man  who  was  kneeling  at  the 
altar  to  receive  the  oflice  of  deacon,  the  bishop,  instead 
of  commencing  in  the  ordinary  way,  lifting  up  his 
eyes  toward  heaven,  with  his  soul  heaving  under  a 
pressure  he  seemed  to  feel,  began  thus  : — "  From  the 
ends  of  the  earth  we  call  upon  thee,  O  Lord  God 
Almighty,  to  pour  upon  this  thy  servant  the  Holy 
Spirit,  that  he  may  have  authority^''  &;c. ;  and  this 
was  accompanied  with  such  an  unction  from  the  Holy 
One,  that  the  young  minister  was  suddenly  suffused 
in  tears,  while  his  nerves  became  so  relaxed  that  he 
could  hardly  sustain  himself  on  his  knees. 

At  another  time,  being  somewhat  displeased  at  the 
gay  attire  of  one  of  the  candidates,  and  perceiving,  as 
was  supposed,  an  air  of  self-confidence  in  another,  the 
bishop  burst  out  into  a  strain  of  rebuke,  mingled  with 
the  tenderest  expostulation,  in  a  manner  which  made 

Vol.  n.— 18 


410  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  C1816 

the  ears  of  all  that  heard  it  to  tingle,  creating,  in  the 
mean  tinne,  a  sudden  sensation  of  abhorrence  against 
every  thing  beneath  the  dignity,  the  gravity,  and  the 
holiness  of  the  ministerial  character.  The  words  he 
used  on  this  occasion  are  forgotten  by  the  writer,  but 
they  were  few,  well  chosen,  and  delivered  with  that 
deep  feeling  and  solemnity,  which  no  man  unless  he 
possess  the  same  gift  need  attempt  to  imitate,  lest  he 
come  under  the  suspicion  of  uttering  what  he  neither 
feels  nor  understands. 

These  sententious,  and  often  abrupt  sentences,  usu- 
ally made  a  more  deep  and  lasting  impression  upon 
the  mind  and  heart  than  the  most  finished  composi- 
tion could  have  done,  because  they  were  thoughts  of 
sudden  inspiration,  uttered  spontaneously  from  the 
fulness  of  a  heart  always  bearing  upon  it  an  im- 
press of  the  divine  image — a  heart  breathing  in  an 
atmosphere  sanctified  by  the  constant  presence  of  his 
God. 

What  a  thrill  did  he  send  through  the  congregation 
on  a  certain  occasion,  when,  after  having  completed 
the  ordination  service  in  the  city  of  Albany,  he  lifted 
up  the  Holy  Bible,  and  exclaimed  with  an  emphasis 
peculiar  to  himself,  "  This  is  the  minister's  battle-axe. 
This  is  his  sword.  Take  this  therefore  and  conquer  !" 
These  same  words  might  have  been  uttered  by  another, 
and  yet  produce  no  effect.  For  it  was  not  the  words 
simply,  but  the  manner  and  the  occasion  of  using  them 
which  invested  them  with  that  sublimity,  that  solemn 
grandeur,  and  overwhelming  pathos  and  power  which 
produced  the  thrilling  effect  I  have  in  vain  attempted 
to  describe.  Those  now  living  who  have  heard  him 
may,  however,  comprehend  my  meaning,  and  hence 
2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  411 

make  up  from  their  own  recollection  for  the  imper- 
fection of  my  description. 

10.  Another  trait  in  the  character  of  Bishop  As- 
bury  was,  the  influence  which  he  exerted  over  others 
in  the  social  circle.  In  whatever  company  he  ap- 
peared, whether  religious  or  irreligious,  whether  high 
or  low,  learned  or  unlearned,  he  generally  had  such  as- 
cendancy over  the  minds  of  others,  that  he  could  easily 
lead  the  conversation,  and  thereby  exert  an  influence 
in  favor  of  religion  highly  beneficial  to  all  concerned. 
Where  he  was  known,  such  was  the  respect  felt  for 
his  character,  that  great  deference  was  paid  to  his 
judgment,  and  hence  a  greater  desire  was  generally 
manifested  by  others  to  listen  to  his  discourse, 
than  to  intrude  their  own  opinions  in  the  social 
circle. 

It  has  already  been  observed  that  he  seldom,  if  in- 
deed ever,  either  visited  others  or  received  visiters, 
without  praying  with  them  before  they  separated. 
On  a  certain  occasion,  being  indisposed,  two  of  the 
most  eminent  physicians  were  employed  to  aflbrd  him 
their  medical  advice.  When  they  had  ended  their 
services,  the  bishop  asked  them  the  amount  of  their 
demand.  They  very  courteously  and  respectfully  re- 
phed,  that  they  desired  nothing  more  than  his  prayers. 
The  bishop  then  remarked  that  he  never  suffered  him- 
self to  be  in  debt,  and  therefore  he  would  discharge 
this  obligation  without  delay,  and  instantly  bowed  up- 
on his  knees,  and  off"ered  up  a  most  fervent  prayer  to 
almighty  God  for  the  salvation  of  his  generous  medi 
cal  friends.  This  took  them  upon  surprise.  It  is 
said,  indeed,  that  one  of  them  was  skeptically  inclined, 
and  was  somewhat  abashed  to  find  himself  so  unceremo- 

2 


412  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [1816. 

niously  brought  upon  his  knees  for  the  first  time  in 
his  life,  to  hsten  to  the  prayer  of  a  Christian  bishop, 
offered  up  in  the  name  of  a  Savior  in  whom  he  had 
little  or  no  faith. 

The  other  who  was  in  attendance,  the  late  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin Rush,  with  whom  Bishop  Asbury  was  on 
terms  of  intimacy,  being  as  eminent  for  his  Christian 
virtues  as  he  was  for  his  medical  skill,  was  no  less 
edified  than  dehghted  in  this  opportunity  of  partici- 
pating with  his  friend  in  an  act  of  devotion  so  highly 
creditable  to  his  head  and  heart. 

This  perfect  command  of  himself  and  of  others  ena- 
bled him  to  keep  at  a  respectful  distance  all  frivolous 
company,  to  awe  into  silence  the  facetious  witling,  as 
well  as  to  secure  the  respect,  love,  and  confidence 
of  the  wise  and  good  with  whom  he  associated.  And 
though  sometimes,  in  his  extensive  travels,  he  was 
thrown  into  promiscuous  assemblages  of  men,  espe- 
cially when  obliged  to  lodge  in  the  public  inns,  he  al- 
ways availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  drop  a  word 
for  God,  nor  would  he  depart  without  proposing 
prayer,  and  seldom,  such  influence  had  his  personal 
appearance  over  the  minds  of  others,  was  he  denied 
the  privilege  of  performmg  this  duty. 

11.  It  may  be  expected  that  I  should  speak  of  his 
faults.  But  what  need  of  this  ?  Have  not  all  human 
beings  human  frailties  ?  Why  then  dwell  upon  that 
which  is  common  to  man  ?  But  all  men  have  not 
the  virtues  which  adorned  Bishop  Asbury.  These 
therefore  may  be  selected,  not  so  much  indeed  in 
praise  of  the  man,  as  to  "  glorify  the  grace  of  God  in 
him,"  which  wrought  mightily,  to  the  destroying  of  all 
sinful  desires,  and  which  enabled  him  to  "  wrestle" 
2 


1816.3  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  413 

successfully  against  "principalities  and  powers,"  and 
to  "  triuHiph  in  Christ  Jesus"  over  all  opposition.  In 
the  midst,  therefore,  of  these  infirmities  which  are 
common  to  man,  this  grace  of  God  in  Christ  shone 
out  conspicuously,  made  him  equal  to  his  herculean 
task,  and  finally  crowned  him  "  more  than  a  conqueror 
through  Him  wno  ioved  him. 

But  the  sun  has  its  spots.  And  though  mindful 
of  the  maxim  that  we  should  "  tread  lightly  on  the 
ashes  of  the  dead,"  I  will  -venture  to  mention  two 
things  in  which  I  think,  with  great  deference  indeed, 
he  erred  in  his  administration.  In  the  first  place,  he 
and  Dr.  Coke  having  been  baffled  in  t-heir  earlier 
attempts  to  establish  seminaries  of  learning,  I  think 
Bishop  Asbury,  becoming  discouraged  from  these 
failures,  was  at  length  too  indifferent  to  this  sub- 
ject, especially  in  the  ministry. 

Probably  having  beheld  the  deleterious  effects  up- 
on the  Church  by  trusting  to  learning  alone  as  a  quali- 
fication for  the  ministry,  and  also  seeing  the  disgust- 
ing pedantry  of  some  who  had  a  smattering  knowledge 
of  the  sciences,  he  might  have  imbibed  an  undue 
prejudice  against  learning  and  a  learned  ministry, 
fearing  that  learning  and  deep  piety  were  not  easily 
associated  in  the  same  man.  He  had  also  long  been 
a  witness  to  the  deadening  effects  of  a  lifeless,  though 
learned  ministry,  upon  the  interests  of  true  religion  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  enlivening  effects  of  a  spiritual 
though  unlearned  ministry  on  the  other  ;  and  he  doubt- 
less persuaded  himself  that  it  was  extremely  difficult 
to  pursue  the  one  without  sacrificing  the  other.  And 
as  to  general  education,  he  thought  that  the  Methodists 
were  not  called  to  devote  their  energies  to  the  pro 


414  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  tl816 

motion  of  this,  but  to  preach  the  gospel,  not  consider- 
ing probably  that  this  might  be  done  without  leaving 
the  other  undone. 

Rut  whatever  consideration  might  have  influenced 
him,  it  is  certain  that  after  the  destruction  of  Cokes- 
bury  College,  and  the  failure  of  the  district  schools, 
he  did  not  sufficiently  encourage  the  pursuit  of  literature 
and  science,  and  t-hat  some  preachers  who,  in  despite 
of  every  obstruction  thrown  in  their  way,  manifested  a 
determination  to  acquire  all  the  knowledge  within 
their  reach,  were  sometimes  checked  in  their  progress 
from  a  fear  of  incurring  the  suspicion  of  being  more 
ambitious  to  shine  in  the  galaxy  of  literature  than  to 
be  useful  as  ministers  of  the  sanctuary.  And  it  is 
highly  probable  that  some  who  gave  evidence  of  the 
existence  of  this  weakness,  by  drawing  forth  the  re- 
bukes of  the  bishop,  may  have  given  birth  to  the  sus- 
picion. He  knew  perfectly  well  that  "  knowledge" 
without  charity  "  pufTeth  up"  the  soul  with  vanity  ;  and 
that  while  it  is  possible  to  be  "  spoiled  with  philoso 
phy  and  vain  conceit,"  it  is  equally  possible  for  the 
minister  of  Christ,  though  destitute  of  the  embellish- 
ments of  human  literature  and  science,  to  be  useful 
to  his  fellow-men. 

But  though  these  considerations  are  offered  as  an 
apology  for  the  indifference  manifested  by  Bishop 
Asbury  on  the  subject  of  education,  they  are  not  in- 
tended as  a  justifiable  excuse  for  its  general  neglect 
for  so  many  years  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
It  was  a  fault  which  will  require  years  of  bitter  re- 
pentance and  assiduous  amendment  to  atone  for,  as  it 
has  thrown  us  behind  the  age  in  scientific  and  mental 
improvement,  with  whatever  care  and  diligence  we  may 
2 


1816J  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  415 

now  redeem  the  time.  It  is,  however,  cause  of 
gratitude  that  a  redeeming  spirit  has  gone  abroad, 
which  augurs  well  for  the  future  prosperity  and  rising 
glory  of  the  Church. 

But  whatever  indifference  he  might  have  manifest- 
ed toward  the  cause  of  education  in  general,  he  by 
no  means  neglected  the  improvement  of  his  own  mind. 
Though  his  constant  traveling  and  the  other  indispen- 
sable duties  of  his  office,  prevented  him  from  any 
regular  and  systematic  pursuit  of  knowledge,  yet  he 
was,  as  far  as  his  circumstances  would  permit,  a  hard 
student,  a  man  of  general  information,  much  addicted 
to  reading  and  study,  and  a  close  observer  of  passing 
events,  of  men,  manners,  and  things.  He  was,  indeed, 
in  the  habit  of  reading  the  sacred  Scriptures  in  the 
languages  in  which  they  were  first  written,  though 
his  modesty  in  this  respect  prevented  him  from  mak- 
ing any  ostentatious  show  of  learning.  It  is  manifest, 
however,  from  his  journal,  though  they  were  all  erased 
in  the  revision  which  was  made  under  his  own  inspec- 
tion up  to  the  year  1807,  and  was  well  known  to  his 
friends,  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  referring  for  the 
illustration  of  difficult  texts,  to  the  original  Scriptures, 
and  to  the  critical  interpretation  of  certain  passages. 
Such,  indeed,  was  the  rich  store  of  his  knowledge, 
that  he  could  bring  "  from  his  treasury  things  new  and 
old,"  and  he  applied  it  all  for  the  promotion  of  experi- 
mental and  practical  godliness. 

The  other  defect  in  Bishop  Asbury's  administration, 
as  I  think,  was  the  not  encouraging  the  people  sufficient- 
ly in  making  provision  for  their  ministers,  particularly 
for  men  of  families.  He  did  not,  certainly,  wish  them 
to  suffer  from  poverty,  for  he  often,  as  we  have  before 


416  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  tl8l6. 

seen,  exerted  himself,  and  gave  his  own  money  to 
supply  their  wants  ;  but  while  he  wished  them  to  be 
above  suffermg  pecuniary  distress,  he  seemed  to  fear, 
that  if  they  were  too  well  off  as  it  respects  this 
world's  goods,  they  would  lose  their  zeal  and  spiritu- 
ahty,  and  thus  cease  to  be  useful ;  and  as  it  was  very 
congenial  to  that  covetous  disposition  so  natural  to 
men,  to  withhold  when  they  are  not  compelled  to  pay, 
many  such  quoted  Bishop  Asbury  to  justify  their 
want  of  practical  liberality."^ 

He  was,  no  doubt  justified  in  his  fears  respecting 
the  freezing  effects  of  worldly  prosperity  upon  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  soul,  by  the  example  of  many, 
as  well  as  by  the  admonitory  language  of  the  Saviour 
respecting  the  danger  of  riches  ;  but  it  should  be  re- 
collected that  extreme  poverty  is  as  often  associated 
with  the  vices  of  murmuring  and  fretfulness  as  riches 
are  with  luxurious  indulgence ;  and  that  therefore,  to 
avoid  both  the  one  and  the  other,  a  reasonable  compe- 
tency is  the  most  desirable  way,  agreeably  to  the 
prayer,  "  Give  me  neither  poverty  nor  riches  ;  feed 
me  with  food  convenient  for  me." 

Bishop  Asbury  considered  the  itinerant  ministry, 
under  God,  as  the  grand  instrument  of  the  world's 
salvation.  To  support  this  therefore,  in  all  its  vigor 
and  spirituality,  he  bent  all  his  energies.  And  he 
feared  that  were  the  ministry  to   become  wealthy 

*  A.  certain  steward  of  a  circuit,  when  urged  to  exert  himself 
to  make  a  more  ample  provision  for  the  support  of  their  preach- 
ers, remarked  that  he  had  heard  Bishop  Asbury  pray  to  the 
Lord  to  keep  the  preachers  poor !  The  presiding  elder  to 
whom  this  was  said  replied,  that  "  such  a  prayer  in  that  place 
was  quite  unnecessary,  as  he  and  the  people  would,  without  any 
such  prompting,  see  that  this  was  done  to  perfection." 

2 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  417 

there  would  be  so  many  temptations  to  locate  that 
they  could  hardly  be  resisted.  Hence,  to  prevent 
a  catastrophe  which  must  come  upon  the  Church  by 
the  substitution  of  a  located  for  a  traveling  ministry,  he 
thought  it  essential  to  keep  it  aloof  from  the  world,  by 
preventing  it  from  accumulating  worldly  property ;  yet 
it  may  be  questioned  whether  more  have  not  been 
induced  to  locate  from  a  feeling  or  a  fear  of  poverty, 
than  by  the  enjoyment  of  a  competency.  This,  at 
least,  has  been  the  pretence,  and  no  doubt,  in  numer- 
ous instances,  the  real  cause.  And  had  a  competent 
provision  been  timely  made  for  the  support  of  itinerant 
ministers,  and  for  the  suitable  education  of  their  chil- 
dren, I  have  no  doubt  we  should  have  been  far 
stronger  every  way,  in  wisdom,  in  numbers,  in  minis* 
terial  talent  and  usefulness,  if  not  also  in  holiness  and 
general  prosperity. 

Thus  have  I,  according  to  the  best  of  my  judgment, 
and  under  a  consciousness  of  the  infirmities  which 
are  the  common  lot  of  humanity,  honestly  expressed 
my  views  of  the  character  of  one  of  the  most  holy, 
laborious,  and  useful  men  that  ever  trod  the  American 
soil.  Others  may  have  exceeded  him  in  general  lite- 
rature, in  systematic  and  various  branches  of  know- 
ledge ;  but  in  the  depth  and  genuineness  of  his  expe- 
rience, in  his  knowledge  of  the  human  heart  and 
character,  as  well  as  of  theological  truth,  in  the  art  of 
government,  in  varied  and  useful  labors,  in  the  extent 
of  his  travels,  and  severity  of  his  sufferings  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  he  stands  perhaps  unrivalled  among 
American  preachers. 

The  defects  above  noticed  no  more  detract  from 
the  general  excellence  of  his  character  than  the  fieet- 
18^  2 


418  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  [181C;. 

ing  clouds  do  from  the  glory  of  the  sun.  They  are 
lost  amid  the  general  effulgence  which  shines  out 
from  every  aspect  of  his  moral  and  intellectual  coun- 
tenance. He  has,  indeed,  imprinted  his  image  upon 
the  institutions  of  the  Church  he  was  instrumental  in 
building  up  in  this  western  world  ;  and  he  "finished  his 
course  with  joy,"  went  down  to  the  grave  with  an 
unsullied  reputation,  and  bequeathed  to  his  brethren  in 
the  ministry  and  to  the  Church  generally  a  name  and 
a  character  not  only  untarnished,  but  resplendent  with 
every  ministerial  and  Christian  virtue. 


Concluding   Remarks. 

When  I  commenced  writing,  my  intention  was  to 
complete  the  history  by  bringing  it  down  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  in  two  moderate-sized  volumes,  but  it  has 
lengthened  out  on  my  hands  far  beyond  my  expecta- 
tion, when  I  began  ;  and  being  frequently  exhorted 
by  friends  in  whose  judgment  I  have  much  confidence, 
not  to  abridge,  and  my  own  convictions  coinciding  with 
theirs  respecting  the  expediency  of  furnishing  a  com- 
plete history  of  all  our  affairs,  so  as  to  give  the  reader 
a  full  view  and  a  right  understanding  of  our  doctrine, 
economy,  labors,  and  success,  as  well  as  the  difficul- 
ties with  which  we  have  to  contend, — I  am  thus  com- 
pelled to  close  this  volume  here,  without  even  adding, 
as  I  intended,  a  chapter  in  relation  to  the  Book 
Concern. 

On  reviewing  my  work  I  am  very  far  from  being 


1816.]  METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  419 

satisfied  with  what  I  have  done.  In  addition  to  some 
incidental  errors,  which  seem  almost  unavoidable  in 
carrying  a  work  through  the  press,  though  I  have 
labored  most  assiduously  to  present  every  thing  in 
consecutive  order,  yet  the  whole  appears  more  like 
scraps  and  shreds  than  hke  a  connected  history.  The 
reader  may  rest  assured,  however,  that  this  was  una- 
voidable, at  least  with  the  present  writer,  from  the 
very  manner  in  which  he  has  attempted,  year  after 
year,  to  weave  the  materials  together.  And  the  la- 
bor necessary  to  produce  a  work  of  this  character  can 
be  known  only  to  those  who  may  have  made  the  trial, 
as  I  have  frequently  labored  for  hours,  turning  from 
one  document  to  another,  comparing  and  collating,  in 
order  to  sift  out  the  truth,  to  ascertain  a  fact  that  may 
have  been  recorded  in  a  line  or  two. 

This  perplexing  labor  might,  indeed,  have  been 
avoided,  by  writing  what  is  called  the  philosophy  of 
history,  and  by  sUding  over  important  facts,  neglect- 
ing true  historical  details,  and  sluring  over  difficulties 
without  attempting  to  remove  them.  The  work, 
nevertheless,  has,  on  the  whole,  been  pleasant  and 
profitable  to  myself,  by  increasing,  as  I  humbly  trust, 
my  gratitude  to  God  for  having  done  so  much  for 
this  branch  of  his  Church. 

I  have  aimed  at  truth — and  in  telling  it  have 
ventured  to  commend  or  censure,  as  I  thought  that  ster- 
ling attribute  required.  In  doing  this,  however,  I 
have  not  lost  sight  of  that  consciousness  of  fallibility 
which  so  strikingly  distinguishes  human  beings,  and 
have  uttered  my  thoughts  with  the  same  cautious 
freedom  and  impartiality  with  which  I  hope  myself  to 
be  judged  and  spoken  of  by  others. 


420  A  HISTORY  or  THE  M.  E.  CHURCH.  [1816. 

With  these  remarks  the  present  volume  is  dismiss- 
ed, by  only  adding  that  whether  I  shall  proceed  fur- 
ther in  the  history  is  somewhat  uncertain,  and  will 
depend  on  those  contingencies  over  which  human 
beings  have  but  httle  control. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.  421 


NOTE  A. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  I  received  from  the  Rev. 
William  Case,  in  answer  to  one  I  wrote  to  him  requesting  in- 
formation respecting  the  state  of  things  on  the  lines,  feeling,  as 
I  did,  very  anxious  for  the  fate  of  those  who  were  exposed  to 
the  calamities  of  war,  many  of  whom,  I  was  well  aware,  might 
be  among  my  former  acquaintances.  The  affecting  description 
of  the  scene  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  contained  in  the  following 
extract,  struck  me  with  such  force  at  the  time,  that  I  request- 
ed permission  of  the  author  to  make  it  public.  In  answer  to 
this,  under  date  of  July  24,  1814,  the  writer  says, 

"  I  submit  to  your  wisdom  and  prudence  the  propriety  of 
publishing  part  of  my  last  letter  to  you." 

Of  this  permission,  however,  I  have  not  availed  myself  until 
now,  and  it  is  published  at  this  time  with  a  view  to  illustrate 
the  horrors  of  war,  as  well  as  to  show  that  the  anticipations 
mentioned  in  the  text  were  fully  realized,  as  also  to  exhibit  the 
pious  concern  which  was  felt  by  God's  faithful  servants  for 
those  who  were  compelled  to  suffer  in  the  calamities  of  a  war 
which  was  then  raging  along  the  frontiers  and  in  Canada. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  William  Case,  dated  Utica, 
May  29,  1813. 

"  I  was  present  a  few  hours  after  the  battle  at  Sackett's 
Harbor,  where  I  witnessed  a  scene  of  death  and  carnage  more 
moving  than  all  I  ever  saw  before.  Numbers  lay  cold  in  death  ! 
Many  were  groaning  with  their  wounds  and  bleeding  in  their 
gore ! Myself  and  two  more  preachers  were  in  Rut- 
land, about  ten  miles  from  the  harbor,  and  were  about  to  com- 
mence clearing  off  a  camp  ground,  but  on  hearing  the  cannon 
and  constant  roll  of  small  arms  we  gave  up  the  idea  of  work, 
and  betook  ourselves  to  prayer.  Such  sensations  I  never  real- 
ized before !  We  knew  many  of  our  acquaintances  were 
there,  among  whom  were  brethren  in  the  Lord.  We  thought 
on  the  condition  of  women  whose  husbands  and  sons 
were  exposed,  the  welfare  of  our  country,  where  so  much  in- 
terest was  at  stake,  and  the  honor  of  the  nation  concerned  I 
But  more  than  all  this  a  thousand  times,  the  immortal  interest 
of  thousands  who  were  engaged  in  the  contest.  And  here  I 
know  not  that  I  felt  any  partiality  for  Americans  more  than 
2 


422  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

for  Englishmen  :  all  of  one  creation — alike  the  suhjects  of  re- 
deeming blood,  all  accountable  to  the  King  of  kings,  and  de- 
serving the  same  condemnation  !  With  these  reflections  we 
immediately  called  the  household  and  fell  upon  our  knees  in 
prayer,  and  the  Lord  poured  on  us  the  spirit  of  supplication. 
We  wept  aloud  and  prayed  most  fervently  to  the  Ruler  of  na- 
tions and  the  Savior  of  men  that  he  would  pardon  our  national 
crimes,  save  men  from  death,  protect  the  harbor  from  conquest, 
and  have  mercy  on  the  precious  souls  of  those  who  were  con- 
stantly falling  in  battle.  You  may  suppose  that  the  constant 
sound  of  the  instruments  of  death  gave  weight  to  our  concern, 
and  ardency  to  our  petitions  with  all  that  our  grace  could 
inspire. 

"  We  then  mounted  our  horses  and  set  out  for  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion, that  if  possible  we  might  afford  some  assistance  as  minis- 
ters, and  administer  consolation  to  the  wounded  and  dying. 
When  we  reached  the  harbor  the  British  had  retreated  to  their 
shipping,  leaving  part  of  their  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field 
of  battle.  These,  with  our  own  men,  were  brought  in  from  the 
field,  the  dead  were  stretched  side  by  side  in  rows,  and  the 
wounded  on  beds  and  straw  in  as  comfortable  a  condition  as 
could  be  expected.  We  were  conducted  by  a  friend  to  the 
several  hospitals,  where  I  saw  the  distress  of  about  eighty 
wounded.  I  cannot  describe  my  feelings,  to  hear  the  groans 
of  the  wounded  and  dying,  some  pierced  through  the  body, 
others  through  the  head,  some  bruised  by  the  falling  of  the 
timbers  of  trees,  others  with  broken  bones,  and  one  whose  face 
was  shot  away  (save  his  under  jaw)  by  a  grape  shot.   He  was 

yet  breathing  strong.    This  was  a  shocking  view Some 

were  in  such  pain  they  could  not  be  conversed  with,  others  be 
ing  fatigued  and  broken  of  their  rest  were  asleep.  But  we 
conversed  with  many  who  manifested  seriousness,  whom  we 
pointed  to  the  suffering  bleeding  Savior,  and  exhorted  them  to 
look  to  him  for  mercy.  Here  I  saw  how  useful  a  faithful  and 
feeling  chaplain  might  be.  The  best  opportunity  would  pre- 
sent in  alleviating  the  miseries  of  men  in  some  degree,  by  pro- 
curing such  things  as  the  distressed  most  needed,  and  by  com- 
forting them  in  their  afflictions.  And  here  he  might  be  heard, 
though  at  other  times  his  counsel  would  be  slighted. 

"  in  conversation  with  the  British  wounded  I  found  a  serious 
young  man  who  had  been  a  hearer  of  the  Methodists  in  Ireland, 
2 


METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  423 

Quebec,  and  Upper  Canada ;  his  name  was  Hornbrook,  and 
he  belonged  to  the  100th  regiment.  Also  a  brother,  Charles 
Pratt,  one  of  our  own  militia,  badly  wounded.  Both  were  very 
glad  to  see  and  talk  with  their  preachers. 

"  Having  been  without  bread  a  long  time  many  of  the  militia 
were  very  hungry.  Some  wanted  coffee,  some  milk,  some 
biead.  We  gave  them  the  biscuits  we  carried  down,  but 
could  procure  no  milk  for  them.  I  really  desired  to  stay  with 
them,  my  heart  thirsted  to  do  them  good.  One  young  man 
who  was  wounded  told  me  his  brother  was  killed  in  battle.  His 
parents,  I  think,  live  east  of  Connecticut  River.  .  .  .  We  were 
then  conducted  to  the  remains  of  Col.  Mills,  of  the  Albany 
volunteers.  He  and  the  British  General  Gray  were  laid  out 
together,  both  brave,  "  by  mutual  wounds  expired,"  but  now 
slept  peaceably  together.  Among  the  wounded  I  heard  no 
swearing.  In  this  battle  several  of  our  brethren  suffered. 
Brother  Graves,  an  ensign  in  the  militia,  living  near  the  harbor, 
and  several  others,  were  taken  prisoners.  He  has  since  writ- 
ten from  Montreal  to  his  family.  Brother  Fay,  of  Ellisburgh, 
was  wounded  in  the  first  part  of  the  action,  and  in  attempting 
to  make  his  way  through  the  woods  toward  home,  fell  in  with 
a  body  of  Indians  who  had  landed  farther  up,  who  shot  him 
several  times,  scalped  and  mangled  him  in  a  horrible  manner. 
His  body  was  found  some  time  after  and  interred  by  his  father 
near  the  place.  It  seems  the  Indians  were  somehow  interrupt- 
ed, and  in  their  hasty  flight  left  the  scalp  and  knife,  which 
were  found  near  the  body.  Brother  F.'s  money  was  found 
near  him  on  a  root ;  his  scalp  is  in  the  possession  of  the  widow. 

*'  On  leaving  the  harbor  we  called  on  some  brethren,  who, 
with  their  neighbors,  carried  down  several  gallons  of  milk,  and 
distributed  among  the  wounded.  We  also  represented  their 
case  to  the  congregation  at  the  close  of  the  camp  meeting, 
when  twenty-five  dollars  were  contributed  and  put  into  proper 
hands,  who  purchased  coffee,  sugar,  and  other  delicacies  which 
they  most  needed,  and  from  time  to  time  distributed  among 
them.  For  this  they  were  very  thankful,  and  both  English  and 
American  blessed  me  with  many  good  wishes  when  I  again 
visited  the  hospital  four  weeks  ago.  I  found  Hornbrook 
had  recovered  so  far  as  to  be  able  to  hobble  about.  Of  about 
seventy-five  of  our  wounded  twenty-one  died ;  of  twenty-four 
British  wounded  seven  had  died.  They  carried  most  of  their 
Vol.  II. — 20. 


424  A    HISTORY    OF    THE 

wounded  off  the  field  to  their  boats  in  time  of  battle.     Brother 

Pratt  has  also  recovered The  body  of  Col.  Mills  was 

removed  to  Watertovvn,  where  his  funeral  was  attended  by  a 
numerous  assembly  of  soldiers  and  citizens,  where  a  sermon 
was  preached  on  Prov.  xxii,  1,  when  several  traits  in  the  charac- 
ter of  the  amiable  colonel  were  proposed  for  imitation.  The 
assembly  were  moved  and  wept. 

"  Our  preachers  on  the  lines  have  frequent  opportunities  of 
preaching  to  the  soldiers,  who  are  very  fond  of  hearing.  We 
find  it  necessary  to  avoid  all  political  discussions,  both  in  public 
and  private." 

The  following  extract  from  the  same  writer  will  show  the 
deep  interest  he  and  others  of  a  like  spirit  felt  for  those  who 
were  suffering  the  consequences  of  this  bloody  contest. 

"  Albany,  Oct.  26,  1813. 

"  This  moment  I  have  returned  from  a  visit  to  the  barracks, 
in  Greenbush,  in  company  with  brother  Merwin. 

"  Having  been  kindly  indulged  by  Col.  Larned,  commandant 
to  the  prisoners,  we  most  joyfully  embraced  the  privilege  of 
proclaiming  to  them  the  sweet  liberty  of  the  gospel.  They 
were  called  together  by  their  officers,  and  a  more  attentive 
congregation  I  never  expect  to  address  again.  As  soon  as  we 
began  to  sing  there  was  weeping ;  and  immediately  on  our 
kneeling  to  prayer  they  all  knelt  down,  and  here  and  there  we 
heard  the  voice  of  Amen  to  our  petition  for  their  salvation.  I 
could  not  solve  this  till  after  the  service.  To  my  great  sur- 
prise and  mingled  grief  and  joy,  several  brethren  and  acquaint- 
ances from  Canada  came  and  made  themselves  knoun  to  us ; 
they  were  militia  in  arms,  and  were  taken  near  Fort  George ; 
among  these  were  Messrs.  George  Lawrence,  leader  at  Four 
Mile  Creek,  William  Clinton,  from  the  head  of  the  lak*?,  and 
Russel  Hawley,  brother  of  David  Hawley  of  Bay  of  Quintie  ; 
their  captivity  was  an  affliction  which  made  friends  more 
consoling. 

"  By  them  I  was  informed,  that  in  consequence  of  the  trou- 
bles there  had  been  no  preaching  in  that  part  for  some  time  : 
that  Mr.  Ryan  and  others  were  traveling  and  doing  all  they 
could  for  God  and  souls  :  that  none  of  our  brethren  in  that  part 
had  been  killed. 

"Brother  Merwin  has  permission  to  preach  to  them  every 
2 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.  425 

week,  and  he  has  appointed  to  do  so  every  Tuesday  afternoon, 
if  the  weather  will  permit.  They  are  a  mixed  multitude  of 
English,  French,  &c.,  amounting  to  about  five  hundred  and 
fifty-nine,  but  were  very  anxious  for  meetings.  Brother  Mer- 
win  is  to  send  them  Bibles  from  the  society  in  this  place,  and 
other  books.     O,  pray  for  them  !" 

Much  individual  suffering  was  experienced  in  various  places, 
and  many  instances  of  Christian  sympathy  were  exhibited  by 
ministers  as  well  as  private  Christians,  highly  creditable  to 
themselves  and  recommendatory  of  that  religion  which  breathes 
good-will  to  man. 

On  the  return  of  peace,  the  first  national  ship  which  anchor- 
ed in  the  port  of  New- York,  under  the  command  of  Commodore 
Chauncey,  by  his  permission,  was  visited  by  one  of  our 
preachers,  who  delivered  a  sermon  to  the  officers  and  men, 
which  was  listened  to  with  serious  attention,  and  for  some  time 
thereafter  regular  preaching  was  kept  up  at  the  navy-yard  in 
Brooklyn,  and  at  the  barracks  on  Governor's  Island  and  the 
other  military  posts  in  the  bay  of  New- York.  These  efibrts 
have  been  crowned  with  success,  many  of  the  sailors  and  sol- 
diers having  given  evidence  of  a  thorough  reformation  of  heart 
and  life. 


CONTENTS 

TO 

HISTORY  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


BOOK  IV. 

From  1792  to  1812. 
CHAPTER     I. 


Methodism  won  its  way,  p.  3  ;  satisfaction  in  the  doings  of  the  confer- 
ence of  1792,  p.  3;  conferences  and  circuits,  p.  4;  efforts  to  establish 
district  schools,  p.  4  ;  labors  of  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  5  ;  Methodism  in  New- 
England,  p.  6  ;  preachers  withdrawn,  dead,  and  located,  p.  9  ;  numbers, 
conferences,  and  circuits,  p.  10;  Methodism  in  the  west,  p.  11 ;  affliction 
and  labors  of  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  12  ;  others  labor  and  suffer  with  him,  p.  15  ; 
Methodism  in  Vermont  and  Maine,  p.  16;  in  New-Hampshire,  p.  17; 
days  of  fasting  and  thanksgiving,  p.  17 ;  locations  and  deaths  of  preachers, 
p.  18  ;  number  of  members  and  conferences,  p.  19  ;  poisonous  effects  of  in- 
fidelity, p.  21 ;  a  fast  proclaimed,  p.  22 ;  thanksgiving,  p.  23 ;  numbers, 
p.  24  ;  conferences  attended  by  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  25  ;  his  labors  and  suffer- 
ings, p.  26 ;  meets  the  classes  in  New- York,  p.  27  ;  Benjamin  Abbott,  p.  27 ; 
his  labors  and  their  effects,  p.  28  ;  his  last  public  service,  p.  35 ;  his  death, 
p.  37 ;  his  character,  p.  38 ;  death  of  other  preachers,  p.  39 ;  of  Judge 
White,  p.  42 ;  numbers,  p.  43. 

CHAPTER   II. 

Second  General  Conference,  p.  43 ;  locations  deprecated,  p.  44 ;  char- 
.  tered  fund,  p.  45 ;  church  property,  p.  51  ;  manner  in,  and  purposes  for 
which  it  is  held,  p.  52  ;  local  preachers,  rules  for  the  government  of,  p.  53  ; 
rule  respecting  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  p.  54 ;  Dr.  Coke  offers  his  services 
to  the  conference,  which  were  accepted,  p.  56  ;  he  returns  to  Europe,  p 
56 ;  an  incident  of  the  voyage,  p.  57  ;  conference  adjourr>.s,  p.  57. 

CHAPTER   III. 

Conferences  and  circuits,  p.  57 ;  illness  of  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  58 ;  his  la- 
bors and  sufferings,  p.  59  ;  further  sufferings  at  Tuckehoe,  N.  Y.,  p.  60 
not  able  to  attend  conference,  but  appoints  Jesse  Lee  in  his  place,  p.  61 
death  of  preachers,  and  number  in  the  church,  p.  62  ;  people  of  color  spe 
cial  object  of  attention,  p.  63  ;  rebuilding  of  the  Light-street  church,  p.  65 
extension  of  the  work  m  Western  New- York,  p.  66 ;  numbers,  p.  67 
death  and  character  of  John  Dickins,  p.  67  ;  deaths  and  locations,  p.  71 
revival  in  Upper  Canada,  p.  72  ;  Calvin  Wooster,  p.  73  ;  good  results  of 
his  labors,  p.  73  ;  others  enter  into  the  work,  p.  74  ;  opposition  to  it,  p.  75 
Methodism  in  Ohio,  p.  77 ;  in  Georgia  and  Mississippi,  p.  81  ;  locations 
and  deaths — death  and  character  of  H.  C.  Wooster,  p.  83  ;  numbers,  p.  85. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Third  General  Conference.  The  oldest  journal  commences  here,  p.  86 ; 
debility  of  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  86  ;  conference  requests  a  continuance  of  hi» 


428  CONTENTS  TO  HISTORY  OF  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

services,  p.  87 ;  to  which  he  consents,  p.  88  ;  the  case  of  Dr.  Coke  consi- 
dered, p.  88  ;  conference  consents  to  his  temporary  residence  in  Europe, 
p.  89  ;  letter  of  Bishop  Asbury  to  the  British  Conference,  p.  89  ;  Dr.  Coke 
returns,  p.  90  ;  address  of  the  American  to  the  British  Conference,  p.  92  ; 
election  of  Richard  Whatcoat  to  the  episcopal  office,  p.  92  ;  his  labors  and 
character,  p.  93  ;  allowance  of  preachers,  p.  95  ;  provision  for  married 
preachers,  p.  96;  boundaries  of  conferences,  p.  97;  the  bishops  authorized 
to  ordain  colored  preachers,  p.  97  ;  adjournment,  p.  98. 

CHAPTER    V. 

Great  revivals,  p.  98  ;  in  Baltimore,  Duck  Creek,  Eastern  Shore  of  Ma- 
ryland, Philadelphia,  Connecticut,  Vermont,  New-Hampshire,  p.  100; 
Commencement  of  camp-meetings  in  the  west,  p.  101  ;  their  good  effects, 
p.  103  ;  great  meeting  on  Desha's  Creek,  p.  104  ;  conversion  of  individuals, 
p.  105  ;  opposition  to  these  meetings — how  silenced,  p.  106 ;  number  of 
attendants  increase,  p.  107  ;  different  denominations  unite  in  them,  p.  107 ; 
powerful  effects,  p.  108  ;  labors  of  William  M'Kendree,  p.  109  ;  camp  meet- 
ings spread^  p.  110;  other  preachers  enter  into  the  work,  p.  Ill  ;  provi- 
dentially introduced,  p.  Ill  ;  defence  of  these  meetings,  p.  112;  death  of 
Sreachers,  and  numbers,  p.119  ;  labors  of  Bp.  Asbury  and  Whatcoat,  p.  119; 
lethodism  in  N.  Hampshire  and  Vermont,  p.  120;  in  U.  Canada,  p.  121  ; 
in  Charleston,  S.  C,  (p.  125;  deaths  of  preachers,  and  numbers,  p.  126; 
death  and  character  of  Mr.  Jarratt,  p.  126  ;  confermces,  p.  130  ;  work  of 
God  prospers  in  the  west,  p.  131  ;  also  in  New-Jersey,  p.  132  ;  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  and  in  Vermont,  p.'_133  ;  Methodism  in  Montreal,  L. 
C.,and  in  Upper  Canada,  p.  134;  labors  of  the  bishops,  p.  135  ;  Baltimore 
conference,  p.  136 ;  death  and  character  of  Bishop  Asbuiy's  mother,  p.  137  ; 
Methodism  in  Philadelphia,  p.  139 ;  numbers,  p.  140 ;  conference  in  Bos- 
ton, p.  140;  progress  of  the  work  by  means  of  camp-meetings  in  Virginia, 
Maryland,  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia,  p.  141  ;  extends  to 
Western  New- York  and  Lower  Canada,  p.  141 ;  deaths  of  preachers,  p. 
142 ;  comparative  view  of  numbers  in  different  sections  of  the  country,  p. 
143  ;  influence  of  Methodism  on  the  general  state  of  society,  p.  144 

CHAPTER     VI. 

Fourth  General  Conference,  p.  150 ;  number  and  names  of  those  com 
posing  it,  p.  151  ;  rules  of  proceeding  and  powers  of  the  bishops,  p.  152; 
trial  of  a  bishop,  amendment  of  one  article  of  faith,  and  sundry  other  alte- 
rations, p.  153  ;  address  of  the  American  to  the  British  conference,  p.  155; 
boundaries  of  conferences,  p.  157;  adjournment  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, p.  158;  effects  of  camp-meetings,  p.  159;  influence  declines  in 
Kentucky,  p.  159  ;  Springfield  presbytery,  p.  160  ;  wild  excesses,  p.  161  ; 
Methodists  adhere  to  their  standards,  p.  162  ;  Cumberland  Presbytery, 
,p.  162;  camp-meetings  in  Ohio,  p.  163  ;  Methodism  in  Marietta,  p.  164; 
in  the  older  states,  p.  165;  in  Illinois  and  Upper  Canada,  p.  166;  state  of 
things  in  Detroit,  p.  170  ;  locations,  deaths,  and  numbers,  and  conferences, 
p.  171 ;  general  state  of  the  work  ;  p.  172  ;  death  and  character  of  Tobias 
Gibson,  p.  173;  of  Nicholas  Watters  and  Wilson  Lee,  p.  174;  of  others, 
p.  175 ;  numbers  and  conferences,  p.  177 ;  proposition  of  Bishop  Asbury 
for  a  delegated  General  Conference,  p.  177  ;  rejected  by  Virginia  confer- 
ence, p.  178  ;  Dr.  Coke's  marriage  and  proposition  to  reside  in  America, 
p.  178  ;  Methodism  in  Louisiana,  p.  179  ;  in  Mississippi,  p.  180  ;  in  Lower 
Canada,  particularly  Quebec,  p.  181 ;  French  mission,  p.  182  ;  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  Eastern  Shore,  Md.,  p.  183 ;  Bishop  Asbury  in  the  west, 
p.  184 ;  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  p.  185 ;  death  and  character  of  Bishop 

2 


CONTENTS  TO  HISTORY  OF  M.  E.  CHURCH.  429 

Whatcoat,  p.  185  ;  withdrawings,  locations,  and  expulsions,  numbers,  and 
conferences,  p.  189  ;  Bishop  Asbury's  travels  and  prayers,  p.  190 ;  Method- 
ism in  Missouri,  p.  191 ;  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  p.  192  j  deaths  and  numbers, 
p.  194. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

General  Conference  of  1808 — ^number  of  members,  p.  195  ;  the  case  of 
Dr.  Coke — his  letter  to  the  General  Conference,  p.  196;  conference  dis- 
satisfied with  him,  p.  199  ;  his  letter  to  Bishop  White,  p.  200  ;  the  bishop's 
answer,  p.  204 ;  remarks  on  this  correspondence,  p.  205 ;  Dr.  Coke's  ex- 
planatory letter,  p.  206;  letter  to  Dr.  Coke,  p.  211  ;  resolutions  in  refer- 
ence to  Dr.  Coke,  p.  214;  address  of  the  British  to  the  American  confer- 
ence, p.  216;  of  the  American  to  the  British  conference,  p.  218  ;  defence 
of  those  measures,  p.  220 ;  measures  for  a  delegated  General  Conference, 
p.  225  ;  memorial  of  the  New -York  conference,  p.  226 ;  concurred  in  by 
other  conferences,  p.  228  ;  referred  to  a  committee,  p.  228  ;  report,  and  its 
rejection,  p.  229  ;  a  source  of  grief,  p.  231 ;  second  report  accepted,  p.  231 ; 
well  received,  p.  233 ;  election  of  William  M'Kendree  to  the  episcopal 
office,  p.  235  ;  sketch  of  his  character  and  labors,  p.  236  ;  E.  Cooper  re- 
signs his  station  as  book  steward,  and  J.  Wilson  and  D.  Hitt  appointed, 
p.  238  ;  local  deacons,  raising  supplies,  settling  disputes,  and  adjournment 
of  conference,  p.  239 ;  minute  respecting  Dr.  Coke,  p.  240. 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

Extent  of  the  annual  conferences,  p.  240  ;  general  satisfaction  in  what 
had  been  done,  p.  240  ;  Bishop  Asbury  relieved  in  his  labors  by  his  new 
colleague,  p.  241 ;  Bishop  M'Kendree  enters  upon  his  work,  p.  242  ;  their 
manner  of  traveling,  p.  243  ;  privations  and  enjoyments,  p.  244  ;  extension 
of  the  work  in  Ohio,  p.  245  ;  singular  conversion,  p.  246  ;  progress  of  the 
work  in  New-England,  p.  248  ;  revival  in  the  city  of  New- York,  p.  250; 
locations  and  deaths  of  preachers,  p.  251  ;  account  of  Captain  Webb, 
p.  255 ;  numbers,  p.  261 ;  Methodism  in  the  west,  p.  262  ;  in  Boston,  p.  264 ; 
origin  of  camp-meetings,  p.  265  ;  manner  in  which  they  are  held,  p.  266 ; 
Account  of  one  held  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  p.  270  ;  another  in  the  west, 
p.  276  ;  numbers,  p.  280  ;  Genesee  conference,  p.  280  ;  Methodism  in  Cin- 
cinnati, p.  281  ;  in  Indiana,  p.  283  ;  revival  in  New-York,  p.  285 ;  locations 
and  deaths  of  preachers,  p.  285  ;  character  of  Joseph  Everett,  p.  286  ;  of 
John  Wilson,  p.  288  ;  numbers,  p.  291 ;  rumours  of  war,  p.  291  ;  earth- 
quakes, p.  292  ;  want  of  houses  of  worship,  293  ;  of  parsonages,  p.  294 ; 
Bishop  Asbury  in  Upper  Canada,  p.  296  ;  in  the  western  states,  p. 298  ;  Me- 
thodism in  Pittsburg,  p.  299 ;  locations  and  death  of  preachers,  p.  301 ; 
numbers,  p.  303. 


BOOK  V. 

CHAPTER    I. 

First  delegated  General  Conference,  p.  303 ;  names  of  its  members, 
p.  305  ;  rules,  p.  307  ;  address  from  Bishop  M'Kendree,  p.  308  ;  referred  to 
committees,  p.  312  ;  Bishop  Asbury's  desire  to  visit  his  native  land,  p.  313; 
Genesee  and  other  conferences,  p.  313  ;  ordination  of  local  deacons, 
.  314  ;  rule  lor  settling  aisputes,  p.  316;  low  stale  of  literature  in  the  M. 
".  C,  p.  317 ;  sad  effects  of  this  state  of  things,  p.  320 ;  Lee's  History  and 

2 


li 


430  CONTENTS  TO  HISTORY  OF  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

efforts  to  obtain  a  better,  p.  322  ;  church  property,  p.  323 ;  provision  for 
worn-out  preachers,  widows,  and  orphans,  and  for  missionary  purposes, 
p.  324  ;  address  of  the  G.  C.  to  the  members  of  the  church,  p.  325,  presiding 
elder  question,  p.  330  ;  history  of,  p.  331  ;  arguments  for  and  against  the 
measure,  p.  338  ;  end  of  the  controversy,  p.  343  ;  stationing  power,  p.  344 ; 
its  use,  p.  345. 

CHAPTER   II. 

War  declared,  p.  347  ;  consequences  of  this,  p.  348 ;  growing  import- 
ance of  the  west,  p.  349 ;  commission  from  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  sent  there, 
p.  349  ;  report,  p.  350  ;  Bishop  Asbury  declines  in  health,  p.  351  ;  remarks 
on  the  war,  and  effects  of  intoxicating  liquors,  p.  352  ;  slate  of  the  work, 
p.  353  ;  numbers,  p.  354  ;  distressing  times  on  the  frontiers,  p.  354  ;  seces- 
sion of  Pliny  Brett,  p.  354  ;  general  state  of  things,  p.  355  ;  labors  of  Bish- 
op Asbury,  p.  356  ;  makes  his  will,  p.  357  ;  mutual  affection  and  influence 
of  the  bishops,  p.  358  ;  numbers,  p.  358  ;  cause  of  the  increase,  p.  359  ;  the 
war  rages,  p.  360  ;  its  effects  on  religion,  p.  360  ;  dangerous  illness,  and 
recovery  of  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  361  ;  resumes  his  travels,  p.  363  ;  his  de- 
bilitated appearance,  p.  364  ;  death  and  character  of  Mr.  Otterbine,  and 
others  connected  with  him,  p.  365;  death  of  Dr.  Coke,  p.  376;  locations, 
p.  380 ;  deaths  and  numbers,  p.  381 ;  Bishop  M'Kendree,  p. 381  ;  conversa- 
tion of  Bishop  Asbury  with  him,  p.  382 ;  the  war  draws  near  its  termination, 
p.  383  ;  locations,  deaths,  and  numbers,  p.  384  ;  peace  and  its  consequences, 
p.  385  ;  Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Kendree,  p.  386  ;  locations — death  of  Lear- 
ner Blackman,  p.  386  ;  of  Richmond  NoUey,  p.  388 ;  of  other  preachers, 
p.  389  ;  decline  of  Bishop  Asbury,  p.  391  ;  last  entry  in  his  journals,  and 
nis  last  sermon,  p.  392 ;  his  death  and  burial,  p.  394  ;  inscription  on  his 
tombstone,  p.  385  ;  his  life  never  written,  p.  396  ;  his  character,  p.  397  ; 
concluding  remarks,  p.  418. 

Appendix, 


END  OF   VOLUME    TWO 


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